This afternoon, the Sydney Swans reserves take on UWS Giants in the curtain-raiser to the seniors’ round 20 blockbuster against Collingwood at ANZ Stadium.

Following the team’s loss to the Brisbane Lions reserves last weekend in Coorparoo, Saturday afternoon’s match – starting at 4pm - looms as one of the Swans reserves’ most important matches

With just two matches remaining on the NEAFL season fixture, a win over UWS could help the reserves in their quest for top spot on the Eastern Conference table and a week off to start the finals’ series.

Young defender Shane Biggs says he and his team mates realise the ramifications today’s match could have on the rest of the season.

“It’s really important for us,” Biggs told sydneyswans.com.au.

“We’ve been a bit undermanned lately with injuries, so the twos have suffered a little bit because the seniors have had some injuries, but we’ve been pulling together and having some great wins and a couple of close losses.

“Especially against UWS, who are our cross-town rivals, this is one game we really want to win.

“We love playing against them and it’s just really important to secure that top spot, which will give us our best chance in the finals.”

The 22-year-old Biggs, who was elevated to the club’s senior list ahead of the Swans’ round 18 clash against Richmond, has his sights set on following in the footsteps of Dane Rampe, Brandon Jack and Xavier Richards and pushing for senior football as the 2013 season heats up.

The only rookie listed played to be retained on the rookie list from 2012, Biggs said he felt he had matured significantly in his second season at the club.

“A few guys dropped off last year, so I guess I realised that I needed to mature,” Biggs said.

“I’ve just turned 22 but I think I was pretty immature last year about AFL footy and what I had to do to sort of get to that next level.

“Now I’m just trying my hardest and working hard and am being realistic about where I’m going and where I’m trying to get to.

“The coaches have told me that they’d seen I’d been working hard and just gradually improving over the year and said that was all they could ask, and that’s why I got elevated.”

While he is still yet to play a senior game, Biggs had his first experience of travelling with the senior team when the Swans travelled to Melbourne to take on the Western Bulldogs last weekend.

Aside for the meals and accommodation being far superior to what he had come to expect with the Swans reserves, Biggs said being in the inner sanctum on game day was a real eye opener.

“Unfortunately I didn’t get to play a game but just the experience of going over with the boys and getting my own room was good,” he said.

“To see the way the guys prepared for the game was just another level compared to what I’ve been used to, so just seeing that was really valuable.

“It really goes to another level on game day and everyone has their own little things that they do, whether it be listening to music or an individual warm-up, so it was good to just watch what everyone did.”