Fans in Sydney will be treated to a genuine NEAFL blockbuster prior to this weekend’s senior game between the Lions and Swans, with both clubs’ undefeated reserves sides also set to do battle at the SCG on Sunday morning.

The Lions Reserves are yet to taste defeat in any of their five NEAFL matches so far, and sit atop the Northern Conference ladder with a healthy percentage of 207.41%.

The Swans Reserves also remain unbeaten after four matches, and boast the highest percentage (205.46%) of any team in the Eastern Conference.

Both teams have been dominant in the early stages of the 2013 NEAFL season, although one side’s perfect start is about to come to an end.

Reserves Coach Leigh Harding is expecting some stiff opposition from a team which could feature a couple of players from the Swans’ 2012 AFL Premiership-winning side.

“This is a big game for both teams,” Harding said.

“We’re both undefeated, and it gives us a chance to see where we’re at (in terms of development) against last year’s AFL Premiers.”

“They’ve got some quality players, so it will be a really big test for us.”

One of the quirks of the fixture means that the curtain raiser will be played at 9:30am (to allow time before the senior game kicks-off at 1:10pm) which means preparations will need to be altered slightly.  

“The boys will have to get up at around 6, eat breakfast, and then head to the ground. It will be a bit like the old junior footy days, when you’d play first thing in the morning,” Harding said.

“It might be a good thing for the boys, because it doesn’t give them time to think too much about how they’re going to play.”

It will be the second week in a row that the Reserves side has travelled, following last week’s ANZAC Day match in Mackay. However, it shouldn’t prove too big a factor given they have been afforded a 10-day break.

Even though almost the entire Lions list will be in Sydney on the same weekend, Harding said both the seniors and reserves would keep separate schedules.

“We’re flying at different times and staying at a different hotel, so the guys will probably just do their own thing,” he said.

“It’s another good chance to get away and enjoy each other’s’ company.”

Simon Black will also be part of the Reserves’ travelling group, after the Match Committee decided to give the Brownlow Medallist one more week in the NEAFL before slotting him back into the senior side.