West Coast has made plenty of off-field headlines in recent months but Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos isn’t expecting the drama to affect their performance when the two sides meet at Telstra Stadium next Saturday night.

“I don’t think it is going to have any impact on their season once it starts,” Roos said prior to training at St Ignatius College on Monday afternoon.

“They seem to be a close-knit group of players and they have responded well over the last three or four years.

"Their football is consistent and they have a lot of ability.”

Roos knows his players will have to be at the top of their game to defeat the premiers.

“Last year we played Essendon in the first round. They didn’t make the eight and had played about eight or nine practice games so we know going into round one we could be a little bit underdone,” he said.

“I think playing the Eagles is good as one thing you do know is if you are not playing well you are going to get smashed so the players understand that fully going in to round one.

“That is a positive and hopefully we can respond to that..”

Given just 12 points has separated the two sides in the last five games, Roos predicts another close encounter.

“I think I read (John) Worsha said there might be a two goal blow-out either way,” he joked.

“It will be close, it is hard to predict score lines but it has been unusual to have so many close games between two clubs and in such big games.

“It has been a terrific rivalry.”