An expansive Essendon will be drowned by pressure - and water - in an ugly "shoebox" AFL affair at the SCG on Sunday if Sydney get their way.

Heavy rains have pelted the city in the lead-up to the round 11 encounter, and Swans midfielder Jude Bolton had little doubt about how his side would approach opponents that disposed of the Western Bulldogs on the Etihad Stadium fast track last week.

"The things that have been really worrying teams against Essendon have been the two ruckmen and hopefully they won't have the dominance they have in previous games, and also their run," said Bolton.

"They've been really taking teams on as well, so hopefully we can almost play it in a shoebox out here (on Sunday)."

Bolton's delight at the inclement weather enveloping Sydney befitted a player known more for his unstinting pressure and courage in close than any great swiftness, and he suggested a battle of wills and inches would unfold.

"These conditions suit me, I don't need to worry about guys bursting through packs and things like that," he said.

"It goes back to the basics really and that's what we need to do and it becomes quite often a yardage thing.

"We've got to get everything in place to make sure we get back on the winners' list, it's going to be a hard-fought game and these conditions definitely bring it back to that purest form."

Having started the season with five victories out of six, the Swans are now in real danger of slipping to 5-6 at the season's midpoint if they cannot defeat the Bombers, who in contrast have successfully raised their game to match the league's more accomplished sides.

In contrast to Sydney's flops against Geelong, the Bulldogs, Fremantle and a narrow loss to Hawthorn, Essendon have seen off St Kilda and the 'Dogs either side of lowly Richmond.

"This is a huge game in the context of our season, with the break in two weeks time we want to be in good form going into it," said Bolton.

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