Departing Sydney coach Paul Roos admits he could never have predicted his side's dramatic form reversal which saw them finish the regular season in fifth spot as one of the hottest teams in the competition.
The Swans, who host Carlton in an elimination final at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, looked set to crash out of the finals race for the second straight year after losing to Melbourne and Geelong by a combined 126 points in Rounds 17 and 18.
But a run of victories over Hawthorn, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane breathed new life into Roos' final campaign as head coach - but even he concedes he didn't see it coming.
"There's a clear difference in our form now than where we were a month ago," Roos said at ANZ Stadium on Friday.
"Did any of us see it coming? If I was brutally honest, no."
"We got beaten by 53 (against Geelong) but we did actually play pretty good footy. That was a reasonable result, but certainly after the Melbourne game you couldn't have predicted that we'd have a month of football like we've had."
"It's a great credit to the leadership group and great credit to the players that have been able to lift their form so significantly over the past month."
But while delighted with the way his side is travelling, Roos remains wary of the talented Carlton line-up.
"I'm really glad (our players) are confident, and so they should be, they're playing really well at the moment," he said.
"Although I must admit I'm nervous about (Marc) Murphy and (Chris) Judd and (Kade) Simpson and (Eddie) Betts and (Jarrad) Waite, that's what I worry about."
But the Swans also boast their fair share of stars and will be boosted by the return of veteran defender Tadhg Kennelly (knee) and AFL rising star Dan Hannebery (back) for the do-or-die clash, while ruckman Shane Mumford (knee) is also expected to play.
Meanwhile, Roos rejected suggestions the Swans have relinquished home-ground advantage by opting to play at ANZ Stadium instead of the smaller SCG.
"I think a lot gets said about the venue but I think the main thing about home-field advantage through the finals is the fact you don't have to get on planes, you don't have to go away and the boys can train here," he said.
"So in my opinion home-field advantage is more about playing in your home state."
"It doesn't mean you're guaranteed a win but I don't think the venues, whether it be home-and-away seasons or whether it be finals, make a massive difference but certainly you'd rather be not travelling than travelling."
The Swans welcome back trio Tadhg Kennelly, Shane Mumford and NAB Rising Star winner Daniel Hannebery for Brett Meredith, Sam Reid and Gary Rohan.
Meanwhile the Blues have made three changes of their own, welcoming back defender Andrew Walker, Richard Hadley and Sam Jacobs for Shaun Grigg, Shaun Hampson and Chris Yarran the unlucky one to miss out.
Finals teams are as follows:
SYDNEY
B: Kennelly, Richards, Shaw
HB: Malceski, Grundy, Mattner
C: Smith, Kirk, McVeigh
HF: Hannebery, O'Keefe, Kennedy
F: Dennis-Lane, Goodes, Bevan
FOLL: Mumford, J.Bolton, Jack
I/C: Moore, Jetta, White, Pyke
EMG: Rohan, Reid, O'Dwyer
IN: Kennelly, Mumford, Hannebery
OUT: Meredith (hip), Rohan, Reid
CARLTON
B: Joseph, Jamison, Davies
HB: Russell, Bower, Armfield
C: Scotland, Judd, Simpson
HF: Robinson, Henderson, Carrazzo
F: Betts, Waite, Garlett
FOLL: Jacobs, Gibbs, Murphy
I/C: Ellard, Hadley, Walker, Warnock
EMG: Anderson, Browne, Yarran
IN: Hadley, Walker, Jacobs
OUT: Grigg (calf), Hampson, Yarran