Sydney coach Paul Roos is proud of his club's achievement to reach a sixth consecutive finals campaign but the last thing he wants is a meek exit in the first week.
That's why the eighth-placed Swans need a dramatic lift in form against Brisbane Lions tomorrow night at the SCG in their build-up to next week's finals campaign.
With two wins from their past eight outings, the Swans players have been scratching their heads about how to turn things around, while Roos himself has been saying publicly that without a major improvement, an embarrassing defeat awaits next week.
Swans players have this week talked up their chances of making an impact in the finals despite their poor recent form and Roos has offered a simple truth: actions talk louder than words.
"The message to the players is don't worry about things that are out of your control," the 2005 premiership mentor said today.
"What I say in the media, what Adam Goodes says in the media, what Brett Kirk says in the media, all that's irrelevant really.
"They are a group that is really finding it hard to come up with answers and as a coach my message to them is the answers are on the field.
"The answers won't be found in a video session or a game-plan book. The answers are out on the SCG tomorrow night and they are very, very simple.
"But it's about actions. I can talk, they can talk, we can all talk. It's not hard to do that ..."
Roos said the Swans had responded to every challenge in the past six years.
"We started off the season, people said we couldn't make the eight, we've done that again," he said.
"There are now some questions about us again and hopefully we can answer those questions also.
"It's a challenge because we are obviously not playing well.
"And that's the challenge for all of us tomorrow night, is to get back into form."
The Swans have rested dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, who has an ongoing groin problem, while 2006 All-Australian half-forward Ryan O'Keefe is in doubt with the flu.
Key forward Michael O'Loughlin has resumed training after an ankle injury but hasn't been selected for a return this week, while the Swans have recalled midfielder Luke Ablett and halfback Nick Malceski.
If results fall Sydney's way they could qualify for a home final next weekend.
But for tenth-placed Brisbane there's no such high hopes, having confirmed their non-participation in the finals with last week's fadeout against Carlton.
The Lions have made six changes, dropping high-profile former Melbourne midfielder Travis Johnstone.
"The disappointment that we're not going to play finals, that will hang around for a long time," coach Leigh Matthews said today.
"But hopefully it's not an issue in terms of tomorrow's game.
"I genuinely feel we're going in with an exceptionally good chance.
"The Swans have had a few weeks where things haven't gone great for them. So from that point of view we are pretty optimistic."
Sydney have won their past six clashes with Brisbane.