Sydney will attempt to put the clamps on West Coast's in-form veterans when the AFL arch-rivals lock horns at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.

Andrew Embley, Dean Cox and Darren Glass have played vital roles in the Eagles' unbeaten start to the season, while star on-baller Daniel Kerr showed he wasn't far from regaining his scintillating touch in a promising AFL return last week.

Embley had been tipped to slide further down the pecking order this season but the 29-year-old has defied expectations, tallying 60 possessions and five goals over the opening two games in performances reminiscent of his 2006 Norm Smith Medal-winning form.

Swans defender Marty Mattner has played on Embley several times in recent years and said he would embrace the challenge once again should the roaming winger make his way into the forward line.

"I watched a bit of his vision from last week and he played really well and got on the end of a few and kicked a few goals," Mattner said.

"He can be quite damaging going forward.

"That's the biggest thing when you play on Andrew, you've got to be wary of him going forward because he's just so dangerous."

Mattner said West Coast ruck duo Cox and Nic Naitanui would also require close attention.

"We have to make sure we don't let them off the leash and if they do go forward, we have to combat their marking and bring it to ground," he said.

"Both of them together are a big task."

West Coast haven't beaten Sydney since round 16, 2007, but Mattner said the Swans couldn't afford to take last year's wooden spooners lightly.

"West Coast look like they've got their good players playing well," Mattner said.

"We respect them and they've got some really good players in Embley and Kerr, Cox and these guys."

Mattner was still plying his trade with Adelaide during the peak of the West Coast-Sydney rivalry, when six matches between 2005 and 2007 - including two grand finals - were decided by a total of 13 points.

The 28-year-old has flourished since making the switch to Sydney at the end of 2007, playing 71 of a possible 72 matches with only a corked quad last year ruining the perfect streak.

"It was a bit disappointing to miss that one but I've been pretty lucky with injury," said Mattner, who has now chalked up 169 games.

"It's been good to find that little niche playing in the backline.

"At the moment I'm really enjoying my footy and hopefully it will be another successful year where we'll play finals."

West Coast made two changes for the match, replacing Beau Waters (elbow) and Brad Sheppard (omitted) with Sam Butler and Eric Mackenzie.

Sydney swingman Alex Johnson will make his AFL debut, with Brett Meredith the player to make way from the team that defeated Essendon by five points last week.

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