GREATER Western Sydney ventured into the heart of Sydney Swans territory on Wednesday and had some interested onlookers in red and white when it trained opposite the SCG.

The Swans are playing at GWS' home ground in Blacktown against Gold Coast in the NAB Cup this Saturday, and with that ground being prepared for the match, the Giants had to look elsewhere for a training venue.

They ended up at Lakeside Oval, where the Swans have trained throughout the pre-season and where the SCG and a mighty banner displaying the likes of Tony Lockett, Paul Roos and Adam Goodes is the backdrop.

Hostilities are expected to increase between the two Sydney sides in the lead-up to their stand-alone AFL clash at ANZ Stadium in round one.

But any ill feelings were put to one side on Wednesday, with GWS coach Kevin Sheedy and Swans counterpart John Longmire shaking hands before the former spoke to the media.

Longmire and fellow Swans coaches George Stone, Henry Playfair and Jared Crouch then took up seats at the far end of the ground to watch the Giants train.

"The reason we're here is that our ground is getting done up for them on Saturday," Sheedy said.

"Believe it or not we're helping each other out on the way to a round one, 2012 AFL match."

Asked if it was a cheeky move by his club to train at Lakeside, Sheedy said: "No, no … well it does look that way.

"Clearly our ground is getting done up for the Swans out there on Saturday and we have to make sure the Swans are looked after out there.

"A bit of ground sharing helps sometimes.

"(But) we've got trip wires, a couple of hand grenades and land mines set up (at Blacktown)."

Before the sides meet at Homebush Bay, the Swans take on the Suns on Saturday, with GWS to clash with Richmond at Manuka Oval in Canberra on the same day.

Sheedy said he was close to deciding on his team for round one, but some spots were still up for grabs in his young squad.

He did confirm the Giants would be missing plenty of experience in the season opener, with Luke Power (hamstring), Dean Brogan (back) and Setanta O'hAilpin (thigh) all to miss out.

"We won't have our best team out there, but this year is a land of opportunity for these young guys who have been drafted," he said.

"We feel we've got the right uncontracted players, but we’ll probably have five or six out.

"Brogan, Setanta, Power and (injured No. 1 NAB AFL Draft pick Jon) Patton won't play."

One senior player who is contributing is Chad Cornes.

Cornes has been used in a variety of roles in his short time with the Giants, including kicking a late goal that helped seal the club's historic victory over Gold Coast last week.

Like many of his teammates, Cornes is still learning his role – and the team song.

"I only knew the first line and the last line, but that was really funny," he said of their less-than-stellar attempt at singing the song.

"We had a bit of a practice on Monday, so I'm sure next time we sing it we'll be much more prepared."

James Dampney AFL.com