WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Sunday June 3, 3.15pm
LAST TIME: Sydney Swans 16.18 (114) d Western Bulldogs 11.9 (75), round 18, 2011 at the SCG
TV and RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
MATCH DAY INFORMATION: Click here for all of Sunday's Match Day Information

Following an excellent start to the season, with five straight wins, the Sydney Swans have been a little shaky of late. After losses in three of their past four games, they have dropped out of the top four and coach John Longmire will be looking for a strong response at the SCG on Sunday. This week they face a Western Bulldogs outfit that has shown vast improvement and a penchant for contested football over the past month. Narrow losses to Geelong and Collingwood, coupled with victories over North Melbourne and Gold Coast, has them just one win outside the top eight.

THE FOUR POINTS

SYDNEY SWANS

1. Longmire faced some persistent questions about injured co-captain Adam Goodes this week, with some suggesting the club needs him back to solve some recent concerns. But the reality is Goodes will be sidelined for at least the next two matches and the Swans need to find some other match-winners. Josh Kennedy, Sam Reid and Lewis Roberts-Thomson are among those that can help fill the ongoing void.

2. There are still question marks over where the Swans sit in the overall AFL landscape. There have undoubtedly been some strong wins, but they have been offset by some disappointing performances. A victory over the Bulldogs and a 7-3 record heading into a clash with Essendon before the bye would have them well-placed leading into the second half of the season.

3. Can the Swans' ruckmen lift? Shane Mumford has returned to training from a back problem, but may still be another week away from a senior recall. Longmire feels the club has ruck depth, but Mike Pyke and Roberts-Thomson were down against St Kilda last week, while Mark Seaby missed out. Whatever the combination, they need to provide more for the Swans to keep winning games.

4. If the Swans are to continue their push for an all-important top-four berth, they need to keep winning at the SCG. Following a below-par 4-4 record at the ground last season, they have been solid at home in 2012. Three wins and a five-point defeat to Adelaide is a strong return, but it needs to continue, starting against the Dogs this week.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

1. Will the Bulldogs finally knock over a top-eight side? They have certainly threatened to, pushing both Collingwood and Geelong to the limit in recent weeks only to let them in for several late goals. The fifth-placed Swans appear ripe for the Bulldogs' plucking.

2. To whom will the Bulldogs assign their attack dog Liam Picken? The tough-as-nails tagger has claimed some big names this season, including Daniel Kerr and Brent Harvey, and the subjects of his attention is likely to be one of Kieren Jack, who has amassed 59 touches and five goals in the past fortnight, Ryan O'Keefe or even Ben McGlynn.

3. The Bulldogs have a poor recent record at the SCG, where they have won just one of their past seven matches, with an average losing margin of 35 points, and haven't tasted victory there since 2008.

4. The Dogs' more contested style under coach Brendan McCartney should suit the small SCG, where play is more congested and there are few easy possessions. They are more organised around stoppages and aim to outnumber their opponents around the ball, and have a host of line-breaking runners who could pose headaches for the home side.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL