Stung by their heaviest AFL loss in five years, Sydney have adopted a "team-first" attitude for Sunday's clash with Melbourne at Canberra's Manuka Oval.

Last week's 61-point hiding by Carlton was the second biggest defeat since Paul Roos took over as Swans coach halfway through the 2002 campaign.

Still intent on winning games while developing youngsters, the Sydney match committee made four changes to their team.

Rookies Mike Pyke and Kristin Thornton were promoted to the senior side for a tussle with a youthful but injury-ravaged Melbourne outfit.

Midfielder Jordie McKenzie will make his debut for Melbourne, who have lost six players this week to injury and illness.

Beaten in six of their last seven games, Sydney are determined to rebound from last week's shocker against Carlton.

"It's all about the team this week," Sydney midfielder and current club best and fairest Jarrad McVeigh told AAP.

"Manuka is a big ground and we've got to be running this week and playing with a really team-first attitude.

"We really have to crack down and get back to the way we want to play, hard accountable footy and just playing for the team."

Melbourne's list of casualties includes midfielders Brock McLean and Brad Green and ruckman Mark Jamar.

With Sydney leading the league in hitouts, primarily due to former Melbourne ruckman Darren Jolly, the Demons' young ruck brigade face a torrid examination in that department.

"If you're looking at something against the Swans where you try to get an edge ... it's certainly in the clearances," Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said.

"Losing Jamar doesn't help."

Sydney retain a slim mathematical chance of making the finals, while Melbourne are engaged in a desperate battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

Roos felt Melbourne's youth gave them an unpredictability and together with McVeigh believed the Demons were definitely heading in the right direction.

"I expect good things from them. They've won two of their last three and they are really showing some good signs of a young team coming through, McVeigh said.

"They've got a couple of hard bodies in the midfield and they've got a lot of quick players. We have to shut down the likes of Aaron Davey and Cameron Bruce."

McVeigh is returning to the ground where he notched a career-best haul of six goals against the Bulldogs last year.

He has tallied just 10 majors in 14 appearances this season and only one in his last five.

"I have been playing a few different roles, playing at halfback a little bit and also guys are manning me up a lot more this year and watching me a lot more closely," McVeigh said.

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