Struggling Swans using AFL derby as finals springboard

Sydney are refusing to rule out AFL finals, believing a win over rivals GWS will help revive their season.

The Swans enter Sunday's derby at the SCG sitting 14th (2-5) with a three-game losing streak after a 38-point defeat to Gold Coast.

Dean Cox's side had started the better team and stormed to a 29-point lead before crumbling under hot pressure from the Suns in the second half.

The result followed losses to Port Adelaide and Collingwood, with Sydney last victorious against bottom-four team North Melbourne in round four.

But midfielder James Rowbottom is adamant his side can rally, pointing to their 2017 campaign.

The Swans recovered from a 0-6 start to play in September, going as deep as the semi-finals.

Local bragging rights on the line only adds more motivation with Sydney boasting a four-game winning streak over the Giants.

"It's obviously not a good position to be in when you're two and (five), but we've done it before as a club, come from 0-6 before and made the finals," Rowbottom said on Thursday.

"We're obviously struggling to find a win at the moment and, regardless of the derby or not, we're in need of a win and searching for that form.

"It does just amplify the moment even more."

GWS will also look to put an end to a form slump following back-to-back defeats.

The Giants (4-3) face the possibility of dropping out of the top eight after similarly coughing up an early lead in their 32-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs.

"Probably pretty similar (to the Swans) as far as review wise," Giants defender Harry Himmelberg said.

"We were very unhappy with particularly the third quarter. There was actually a patch of I think it was eight or so minutes where they (the Bulldogs) kicked five goals on us."

The Giants also let slip a 28-point lead in their last derby meeting, losing by six in last year's qualifying final.

But Sydney's most recent derby triumph won't be taken into consideration by the home side in the lead up to Sunday.

"We've got probably more pressing issues in team and form and everything in the last couple of weeks that we probably need to review and fix, rather than looking back six months to try and draw inspiration," Rowbottom said.

GWS veteran Stephen Coniglio will again be a test as he manages a glute issue that has kept him out of the side since round four.

Sydney skipper Callum Mills remains a week-to-week assessment following his plantar fascia tear, but defender Sam Wicks (calf) is a chance and midfielder Taylor Adams (hamstring) is closing in on a return for next round.