Coach John Longmire believes Sydney's tough road to the AFL finals is a good thing - but he's not so sure about Adelaide's soft path being bad.

Longmire reckons the answer will only be known after Saturday's qualifying final between the clubs in Adelaide.

The Swans open their finals campaign following matches against powerhouses Geelong and Hawthorn; the Crows in contrast played lowly Gold Coast and Melbourne.

"The last few weeks we have played some clubs that are in the finals and have played fierce, contested brands of footy as well," Longmire told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.

"And hopefully that holds us in good stead, we think that is a good thing.

"But we have to wait and see."

Longmire and the Swans arrived at Adelaide Airport bemused to be met by a choir singing Adelaide's club song.

But the wacky welcome was soon lost on Longmire as he focused on matters including replacing suspended key defender Heath Grundy.

The Swans coach said versatile Lewis Roberts-Thomson was the "obvious" candidate to replace the banned backman, but added he had other options.

"We realise we're playing a team with two big key forwards, but also some real firepower around their feet," Longmire said.

"So it's not just about the tall key forwards tomorrow with Adelaide, it's actually about their whole forward structure and making sure that obviously the ball doesn't get in there.

"They're a really quality midfield and we have got to make sure we put some pressure on them in that part of the ground to help our defenders out."

Longmire said the midfield battle would determine which team wins its way into a preliminary final, and he was particularly wary of Adelaide's Brownlow medal chance Patrick Dangerfield.

"He's a pretty hard bloke to tag, Dangerfield, because he's so good at the contested footy," Longmire said.

"The only way you could probably tag him is have a big bloke on him that is not as quick as him, and that is the real challenge.

"We have got to make sure that we make him accountable - we understand his strengths and weaknesses, but we have got to make sure that we get our hands on the footy, that is always the best way of restricting the opposition."