Patrick Cripps is likely to return for Carlton at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, but Sydney Swans hard nut George Hewett has warned the midfield bull is just one of a host of gun Blues on-ballers.

Star names like Marc Murphy, Ed Curnow, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Sam Walsh will all bolster the Blues at the coalface of the contest, prompting Hewett to underscore Carlton’s dangerous midfield brigade.

“I think the midfield has been Carlton’s strength for a lot of years now,” Hewett told SwansTV.

“They’ve got some guys in there who have played a lot of footy.

“We back our midfield against anyone’s, so it’ll be a good contest as it usually is. The whole competition is so tight, and it’ll be another really good, close challenge on the weekend.”

Cripps hasn’t suited up since suffering a foot injury in Round 13, but it’s understood the All Australian midfielder is tracking well in the lead-up to Saturday’s game.

The 94-match Blue was running second on the AFL Coaches’ Association votes leaderboard at the completion of Round 13, and he’s averaging a competition-high 8.2 clearances per game.

Always one to embrace a challenge, Hewett said he would prefer to face Cripps in the SCG clash.

“He’s a great competitor and one of the best in the competition,” Hewett said.

“We’re not sure about Carlton’s team selection just yet, but it would be good to see him out there playing against us and, if he does play, we’ll see how we go against him.”

Hewett is compiling a brilliant resume of his own, with the 23-year-old sitting among Sydney’s top three in average contested possessions and clearances per game for the second season in a row.

The South Australian, who made his AFL debut in the opening round of 2016, has this season also recorded career-high match totals in disposals, contested possessions and tackles.

Hewett is thriving on his passion for the game.

“I’ve probably enjoyed my footy more than I ever have this year, which has been really good,” Hewett said.

“It’s been so much fun playing with the young boys. You get so excited playing with your good mates, and it’s good to have a challenge every week.”