The transition of the Sydney line-up will take another step forward on Sunday when promising youngster Jesse White makes his AFL debut against the Kangaroos at the Telstra Dome.

White, the 79th pick in the 2006 national draft, has an imposing 196cm, 103kg frame and will spend time in the forward line trying to pick up some of the slack left by Barry Hall's absence, while he will also help Darren Jolly in the ruck.

The club have high hopes for the former basketballer, who joins other young Swans Kieren Jack, Ed Barlow, Jarred Moore and last week's debutant Nick Smith in getting a chance to cement a place in the ageing Swans list in 2008.

Peter Everitt will play in the reserves again this week and White may have to make way for the veteran when Sydney meets the Bulldogs at the SCG next Sunday.

But with Everitt probably in his final season, 20-year-old White looms as a potential long-term key position player for the Swans.

"It's exciting to have another guy playing his first game. It's a good effort," coach Paul Roos said prior to training Friday.

"He's a really big kid and that gives you a chance physically.

"He's an ex-basketballer who has got good movement, he can jump, so he's got good athletic tools as well.

"He came pretty raw but he's improved, he's still got a lot of work to do and he's still got a lot of improvement left in him.

"He's the sort of kid that once he realises how big and strong he is, he could be a very, very good player.

"But the first goal is just to be competitive on the weekend, just do the roles he's asked to do and I'm pretty confident he'll be able to do that."

White admitted he had trouble sleeping after being told during the week he was likely to make his senior debut on Sunday against an in-form Kangaroos side.

"(I'm) really excited, a little bit nervy, but looking forward to it," he said Friday.

"I got told on Wednesday training I was a chance and got the final call Friday.

"I'm going to be playing up forward and in the ruck, helping out (Jolly)."

The Swans were highly competitive for three quarters against premiers Geelong last week before being overrun in the final term.

Sydney and the Kangaroos both have 3-2 records, so it's a crucial game for the two clubs as the season starts to take shape.

"We're going to have to be at our best and hopefully we can play the way we did for three and a half quarters last week," Roos said.

"That's really the goal, to try and reproduce that form from last week and put the last ten minutes away."

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