WHERE AND WHEN: ANZ Stadium, Saturday August 11, 7.40pm
LAST TIME: Collingwood 13.21 (99) d Sydney Swans 14.9 (93), round 14, 2011 at ANZ Stadium
TV and RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
MATCH DAY INFORMATION: Click here for all of Saturday night's match day information

The ladder-leading Sydney Swans just keep on banking four points, quietly taking their winning streak to nine with last Sunday's triumph over Carlton and ensuring first place on the ladder for another week. But they have to snap a 10-game, six-year losing run against Collingwood if that winning streak is to reach double figures. The Pies' narrow triumph over St Kilda kept them one victory behind the Swans and a seventh straight win at Sydney Olympic Park will significantly boost their top-two hopes. There is a huge amount on the line at ANZ Stadium.

THE FOUR POINTS

SYDNEY SWANS

1. Despite their lofty standing on the ladder, the Swans haven't had a great run with injuries, and that reared its head again this week with Jude Bolton's knee injury. With Sam Reid (knee) also to miss again this week, the depth is being tested. But the squad has coped admirably to date and coach John Longmire is confident they can cover Bolton's expected four-week absence.

2. Longmire also commented on Collingwood's midfield this week, saying Dane Swan - who is now suspended - Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams and Dale Thomas are among "six or seven" elite Magpie midfielders. But the Swans coach is also keen to see his emerging group of midfielders, including Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker, try to match it with one of the AFL's best.

3. The Swans have no less than 11 players with double-figure goals this season, including seven with more than 20 goals, led by Lewis Jetta's 39. It is a variety of goal kickers that makes the Swans so hard to contain. Lewis Roberts-Thomson has stepped up in Reid's absence and the Pies will need to find a way to shut them down.

4. Contested possessions have been a measuring stick all season and the Swans are currently third in the AFL with just over 150 per game. But the Pies have also been strong in that area, moving to fifth after comfortably topping St Kilda - another noted contested team - in that area last week. The battle of the clinches will be vital on Saturday night.

COLLINGWOOD

1. The Pies were so untidy against the Saints, it prompted coach Nathan Buckley to declare that music from slapstick British television program The Benny Hill Show would have provided a suitable soundtrack, especially given the error-riddled final few minutes. But the fact remains, the Pies won a tight one in what would have essentially been the perfect finals preparation given the way they were able to hang on in an intense final quarter.

2. First Sharrod Wellingham, now Swan. The Pies have pulled no punches when it comes to disciplining their players for off-field indiscretions, with the Brownlow medallist now out for two games. When Swan missed rounds nine and 10 with a hamstring, Beams, Steele Sidebottom and Jarryd Blair took the opportunity to emphasise just how far they've come in the midfield this season. They'll have to continue that if the Pies are to cover Swan's absence.

3. Chris Tarrant. Probably, along with Alan Didak, is one of the most written-about Pies who have played the least amount of games this year. Tarrant was a late withdrawal from Saturday night's win with what he labelled as back spasms. With just four and a bit senior games behind him - although three have been in the past month - is time running out for the veteran, who desperately wants that elusive premiership?

4. Andrew Krakouer and Brent Macaffer successfully returned from knee injuries in the VFL at the weekend while Alan Didak played another game and got through well. With Ben Johnson poised to return this week through the VFL and Swan to be available in two weeks, there's bound to be a few tough selection calls made in the lead up to - and throughout - September.

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