AS IT says in Greater Western Sydney's team song, there's a big, big sound coming from the west of the town – and the Sydney Swans are taking notice.
The two Sydney sides meet for the third time at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, and while last year featured two one-sided contests and plenty of niceties, there is a noticeable lift in feeling this time around.
The derby is being called 'The Battle of the Bridge', the idea of GWS coach Kevin Sheedy and a reference to the Anzac Bridge, which is part of the Western Distributor freeway from the CBD to the inner west and northern Sydney.
But it's fair to say the Swans aren't exactly warming to that concept.
"We consider all of Sydney – it doesn’t matter which side of the bridge you live on or what bridge it is – we've got plenty of supporters in all spots of Sydney, north, south, east and west," Swans coach John Longmire said on Wednesday.
"We don't just confine ourselves to the eastern suburbs, we've got supporters all over the city, which is fantastic.
"We've been here for 31 years now and we really value that, so that's what we're focusing on."
Sheedy, who was part of a joint press conference with Longmire at Parliament House in Sydney, then chimed in with "We're in town now. You can't have it all."
Just six kilometres separates the SCG from the Anzac Bridge, however, which Longmire was keen to point out.
"The bridge is pretty close," the Swans coach responded. "If we just restrict ourselves to the bridge just there … we're not going to do that."
It has added some welcome spice to the match, but it is not only geography and cable-stayed structures that are in dispute in the fledgling rivalry.
There is a palpable confidence oozing out of western Sydney about the Giants' chances of matching it with their far more heralded opponents and there is little doubt the Swans have taken note.
While bookmakers give GWS virtually no hope of an upset, renowned marketing machine Sheedy was happy to warn "you little Swannies", as he referred to them, against any complacency.
"Don't write us off," Sheedy said. "That's all I'll say. You shouldn't miss the first quarter.
"(It's) the reigning premiers against a new young side in the west of Sydney.
"We'll be as hungry as junkyard dogs.
"Don't get too nervous you little Swannies, but you're in for a bit of a shock."
Longmire was then asked about the Giants' confidence and the reigning coach of the year was more diplomatic.
"Obviously there's a bit of confidence coming out of their camp, which is fair enough," he said.
"They've got some fantastic players, they've got some terrific young kids all over the ground.
"We've been able to see them a bit over the pre-season because they were actually training at our ground (at Lakeside Oval) for a couple of weeks and you realise how good their players are, how well they train and how much talent they've got.
"They've got some real hard nuts and we certainly respect the fact that they'll be very difficult to beat."
James Dampney is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
The Battle of the Bridge is at 4.40pm on Saturday, 30th March at ANZ Stadium. Tickets available at ticketek.com.au/giants
