GREATER Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy is far from worried about getting "under the feathers" of the Sydney Swans.

He wants to spark a cross-town war and Saturday's round one match at ANZ Stadium is just the beginning.

"We've got to build a ferocious and competitive spirit against the Giants and the Swans - and why not?" Sheedy said on the eve of what he's dubbed the Battle of the Bridge.

"That's why 80,000 people go and watch a Richmond-Carlton game. We've got to get that in our make up.

"I'm not worried about putting that on the table.

"You've got to have competitiveness and give it to each other."

The veteran coach's mission is to create an AFL rivalry to match that of his old club Essendon and Hawthorn.
And, so far, he's been successful, having irked a handful of Swans' players with his pre-match talk.

"The only way that we're going to be a great club and get fantastic crowds to come along is to put it on the table now when the team's growing and young," he said.

"This is the way it's going to start and we're not going to stop."

With three debutants to hit the field for GWS' home game - compared to 14 in their maiden AFL match last year - Sheedy is confident he's prepared their best team yet.

"Last year I think we walked into the match with maybe 15 or 16 players that have never had one game and were basically just turning 18 (and) didn't even have car licences," he said.

"We've got a much different situation this year and that's pleasing."

No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield and number three selection Lachie Plowman will together make their AFL debuts after strong performances in the pre-season Cup.

Former Hawthorn premiership defender Stephen Gilham will also play his first game for the Giants, marking his 100th AFL match.

"What better challenge than to take on the reigning premiers, the benchmark of the competition at the moment," Gilham said.

"There's going to be some nerves and big moments in the game, (so I'll try) to keep the guys calm and collected."

Saturday's clash will be the third Sydney derby, with the Swans winning the previous games by 63 and 94 points respectively.

While the 2012 champions are undisputed favourites, they go into the match having lost to the Giants in the opening round of the pre-season - albeit without their key players.

The premiers had a limited preparation and will be without defender Alex Johnson (knee), who was a key cog in their defence last year.