GWS co-captain Phil Davis is bracing for the wounded Swans to come out firing at the SCG, where the Giants are yet to win an AFL game, and says last year's shutdown of Franklin counts for nothing heading into the potentially season-defining clash.

Franklin has had a quiet fortnight booting two goals in the West Coast loss last Thursday after failing to kick a major in the one-point defeat to Collingwood a week prior.

During that time the Giants have shrugged off a round-one hammering by Adelaide to beat North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, surging into the AFL's top four.

Saturday's clash is the first time that GWS have held a superior position on the AFL table heading into the derby, but Davis said ladder positions were irrelevant.

"You play Sydney any time, they're pretty dangerous," Davis said.

"They're a formidable side, a formidable footy club. You don't play in last year's grand final and not have some great, great players and a great organisation.

"They've had a fair bit of misfortune with their injuries but it looks like a lot of their players are coming back. They'll get a fair few strong ins this weekend with [Isaac] Heeney, and [Kurt] Tippett and maybe [Jarrad] McVeigh and the like.

"They're a tough team to play and we haven't beaten them at the SCG either so we're in for a hell of a tussle."

The Giants have recalled Steve Johnson for Saturday's contest after the veteran forward recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of last weekend's win over Port in Canberra. Youngster Tim Taranto has been given a week's rest after playing the first four games of the year.

GWS has won the last two AFL derbies including their 36-point triumph in the qualifying final, but Sydney proved too good at Blacktown in the pre-season where Franklin finished with two booming goals in his first game since off-season shoulder surgery.

"I played him in the JLT out at Blacktown and he was moving exceptionally well," Davis said.

"He's going really well. Last week he got a bit of a knock – his form prior to that had been superb. I'll have my hands full and can hopefully get a bit of help again from my teammates.

"He's moving really well, he's big and he's strong and I think he's on top of his game as much now as he ever has been.

"It's hard work. He's very fast, he's quick, he's agile and on top of that he's a very good competitor. He's a pretty formidable athlete and you've just got to make sure you keep on doing the little things right and keep yourself in the game because otherwise he'll eventually overpower you.

"I just keep on chipping away and just try to hang in there."