But Swans co-captain Dane Rampe isn't interested in the Blues' script.

"They're all big games and we don't worry about Carlton and their story - we're worried about writing our own," he said.

Both sides endured tough starts to the season and looked out of contention by the halfway point.

The barnstorming Blues surged into fifth spot, inviting the spotlight as they took all before them on a nine-match winning run that booked their September ticket.

Away from Melbourne's AFL bubble, Sydney quietly clawed their way into the top-eight with a six-match winning streak of their own.

"It's funny to think when we played last time (in round 11) it was both teams battling their way through the season," Rampe said.

"It's going to be a great game.

"Carlton are arguably the form team of the competition, so we're looking forward to the challenge and gearing up for a big one."

Carlton have felt the energy building around them from a passionate fanbase ahead of their first final since 2013.

Many of the players, including 180-game star Patrick Cripps, are featuring in September for the first time.

"It's going to be a packed house and a lot of interest around us," Voss said.

"I appreciate that part of that's a celebration of what we've done so far, an acknowledgement of that, maybe a weight (lifted).

"But at the same time we realise that we've got a job to do."

Cripps and Sam Docherty return for the Blues after missing round 24 with soreness, and Marc Pittonet has been recalled to partner Tom De Koning in the ruck.

Lewis Melican replaces Robbie Fox in the Swans' defence, while Tom Papley (hamstring) and Justin McInerney (calf) have overcome injury concerns.

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