Sydney are likely to have five players getting their first taste of AFL finals this weekend but co-captain Adam Goodes is confident the youngsters will rise to the occasion.

Luke Parker, Alex Johnson, Gary Rohan, Matt Spangher and Sam Reid will all be playing in their first AFL finals series should they take on St Kilda in Saturday night's elimination final at Etihad Stadium.

All five have played major roles in the Swans' season and with the exception of Reid, who was a late scratching against Brisbane due to calf tightness, they're all incumbents in the side.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for them," Goodes said.

"We've definitely played in a few games this year which have been at finals intensity, so it won't come as a complete shock to them.

"That's the thing we'll be telling them this week, that it is just like any other game but the intensity and pressure is definitely going to be lifted.

"... It's a nice reward for those guys who have played all year, especially someone like Alex Johnson who has just been fantastic for us."

Johnson has been a revelation in his first AFL season after being selected with the 57th pick in the 2010 draft.

He debuted in round three and has missed two games since then, regularly getting the better of quality key forwards.

"This time last year I wouldn't have thought I'd be playing senior footy at all and to be going into week one of the finals is really exciting," Johnson said.

"To play finals this week I guess is another dream that I've achieved this year."

"The coaches have instilled a lot of faith in me... it's the best culture I've ever been involved in."

Johnson is usually entrusted with stopping the opposition's third best tall, so it's unlikely he'll be asked to stop Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt.

If he does find himself playing on Riewoldt it will undoubtedly be a weird feeling for the 19-year-old, who played most of his junior football as a forward.

"In a few questionnaires that I did as a 16 or 17-year-old growing up (that asked) `who do you want to model yourself on as a centre half forward?' (My answer) would have been Nick Riewoldt, so the challenge of playing on him this weekend would be good," he said.

"We haven't gone through matchups yet but there could be a chance which I look forward to.

"One of my major strengths is my fitness, so if I could keep going with him I'd be happy with that."

And while Johnson will be playing in his first AFL final, the former student at Melbourne's Xavier College is no stranger to September fever.

"I grew up barracking for Melbourne so I was at the MCG most weekends if I wasn't playing," he said.

"I've been to most grand finals as a kid. I love finals time and finals time down in Melbourne - there is nothing better.

"(I was there) in 05 when the Swans won it, it was pretty exciting."

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