The Swans are flying high at the top of the NEAFL ladder, fielding a number of players with AFL experience who are pushing to return to the top level, but Demons coach Ben Waite says they'll approach the game like any other.

"That's what NEAFL is all about - the ability to test your mettle against a professional athlete, and that's why we take up the opportunity to play in the NEAFL competition," he said.

"It's a fantastic challenge for our young guys ... but it's also fantastic to lower the colours of a professional athlete when you're a part-timer."

The Demons will blood two more debutants - Ben Jamieson and Lachie Harper - against the top-of-the-table Swans, taking their player tally to 34 for the season.

Injuries are not an issue for the team, and the ability to play more new players is a luxury not a necessity for the developing side, Waite says.

"A side at the peak of their powers might be worried to debut players, because they're vying for finals and grand finals and it might cost them a spot, whereas we've got the luxury where we can play these guys, keep them in for a while knowing they're not going to have an impact straight away.

"But we can work with them and they can go back to AFL Canberra level and apply what they've learned and come back."

While Waite says they will work on exploiting the Swans' weaknesses, he admitted they have very few.

"They're a very well structured, well-coached opposition, where their academy guys train with their senior group so everyone understands their structures very well.

"They don't have any guys averaging over 30 possessions a game, but they have a good 10 to 15 guys averaging 15 to 25 possessions a game, which is a very good spread."

Having pushed last year's grand finalist Aspley for periods last weekend, Waite believes the team is on the right track, playing three of the best sides in three weeks to "know where the bar is".

"As a group we can then gear the next few weeks to adapt to the top standard so we can come home in the back half of the year with some good expectations for ourselves. We're realistic, but we're also confident that we're definitely on the right path."

NEAFL

Saturday, 12pm: Canberra Demons v Sydney Swans at Manuka Oval.

AFL Canberra First Grade

Saturday, 2.15pm: Ainslie v Gungahlin at Alan Ray Oval; Belconnon v Tuggeranong at The Nest

Sunday, 2.15pm: Queanbeyan v Eastlake at Allinsure Park