The Swans have recorded back-to-back wins over top-eight sides and are now intent on beating another “formidable unit” in Sydney Derby XV on Saturday afternoon.

Sydney and GWS will do battle at Spotless Stadium in what looms as one of the most highly anticipated cross-town bouts in history.

Sydney has edged Collingwood and Melbourne in the past fortnight to climb to sixth on the ladder – and a clash with a GWS outfit flying high in third now awaits.

Swans coach John Longmire says his team’s sights are firmly set on toppling the Giants, who are just one of three clubs certain to play finals football with two regular-season games left.

“We know we play a really good team this week,” Longmire said.

“We’ve been watching the Giants closely, as they do with us, and you see a really good team that’s got better and better the longer the year’s gone.

“We understand they’re a formidable unit and we come out here on their home deck this week and we look forward to a challenge against a high-quality team.”

The Swans claimed victory in eight of the first nine Sydney Derby clashes but the Giants have won three of the past five.

The past two matches have gone down to the wire, with the Swans scraping home by an average of 14.5 points.

Sydney clinched a 16-point win when the two sides last met at the SCG in Round 3, with Swans ruckman Callum Sinclair recording 45 hit-outs and three goals in a glittering display.

GWS has won nine of its past 10 matches this season and last week collected a gritty 14-point victory over Adelaide in Canberra.

Swans captain Josh Kennedy said the Round 22 clash would present an invaluable test.

“We’ve got a huge opportunity in front of us to take on one of the best teams in the comp in GWS,” Kennedy said.

“With the ladder so close at the moment there’s a lot on the line. Every game’s a big game, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get back up and go again.”