Sydney coach Paul Roos has mixed news on the fitness front but a focused group of players for Saturday's AFL clash with Essendon at Telstra Stadium.

Roos and captain Stuart Maxfield emphasised the blaze of publicity this week over the club's financial position hadn't distracted the players.

"I think more than anything, they (the players) have just maintained their focus on the job in hand this weekend," Maxfield said.

The coach also downplayed the issue before training today.

"The players aren't concerned about it at all and I'm not concerned about it and the football department isn't concerned about it, so it's just business as usual for us," Roos said.

Asked about the possibility of pay cuts for players, Maxfield said: "If it did come to that, it would certainly be a collective decision amongst the players".

Of the three experienced players who missed last weekend's win over Richmond, Roos suggested midfielder Daryn Cresswell was almost certain to play, back Jason Saddington, very doubtful and forward Michael O'Loughlin a possibility.

Roos anticipated Saturday's match would be one of the toughest the Swans had played this season with Essendon still positioned outside the top eight despite last week's win over West Coast.

"I'm sure they had aspirations of definitely finishing in the eight, probably top four and it certainly reeked of that last week, they really felt as a player group and as a club they needed to stand up, and they did," Roos said.

"I would imagine it would be the same for them this week, that they would be coming up here to keep their season going, get to 6-5 and really get back in amongst it."

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