Preview: Sydney v Carlton

WHERE & WHEN: Blacktown Olympic Park, Saturday 20 February, 7.40pm (AEDT)

MATCH ODDS:
Luxbet: Swans $1.93, Blues $1.87

PRE-SEASON/NIGHT PREMIERSHIPS WON: While South Melbourne won the first two night competitions and three of the first five there has been only one further success for the club and that came in its first year in Sydney in 1982. In recent years the Swans' record has been abysmal with seven-straight first-round exits under Paul Roos.
Carlton has won the title four times, including twice in three seasons in 2005 and '07 under former coach Denis Pagan but in both those years the club subsequently struggled in the season proper, finishing last in 2005 and second-last two years later.

LAST YEAR'S NAB CUP: Continuing the theme under Roos, who had never taken the pre-season competition seriously, the Swans crashed to a heavy 65-point defeat to Port Adelaide at Manuka Oval in the nation's capital, the Power booting 20 majors including four super goals to run out easy winners.
Blues supporters were up and about early in the competition as their team crushed the Kangaroos by 53 points and then also tamed the Hawks by four goals but the run came to an end by 17 points in the semis at the hands of eventual premiers the Cats.

WALKING WOUNDED: Sydney has named returning Irishman Tadhg Kennelly and recruits Ben McGlynn, Mark Seaby and Gary Rohan but other new boys Daniel Bradshaw and Shane Mumford as well as Ryan O'Keefe, Rhyce Shaw, Ed Barlow, Patrick Veszpremi and Jesse White are among those missing.
Carlton has picked Robbie Warnock for his first game for the club after his 2009 was ruined by injury, along with former Demon Brock McLean and the man who moved south from Brisbane as part of the swap for Brendan Fevola, Lachie Henderson. But Andrew Walker, Eddie Betts and Adam Houlihan are all banned after getting into trouble following the club's infamous booze cruise in December while Marc Murphy, Jarrad Waite and Chris Johnson are others who won't play.

WE THINK: This shapes as a fascinating game with the Swans expected to actually look for a win and Blues fans to get their first look at their team in the post-Fevola era. Having missed the finals for the first time in several years in 2009, Roos reportedly has targeted a better and faster start to 2010, beginning with the NAB Cup and the club is also keen to get a head start on Greater Western Sydney in the city's west. But Roos' counterpart Brett Ratten will have his men up for the battle too and the visitors may just prove too strong in a tight tussle. Carlton by 8 points.