The Blues were sitting second after round six but one win in the past month has seen them slip outside the top-five and into sixth.

Phil Packer's charges now face an uphill battle to reclaim a spot in the finals race and desperately need an upset to get their season back on track.

In contrast the Swans have won three of their past four matches with the only hiccup against an in-form Barnawartha two rounds ago.

Whitehead said with the stakes so high for the opposition, it spelt danger for his team.

"History says Mitta at home is always a tough nut to crack," Whitehead said.

"After losing last week against Tallangatta their finals chances are slipping away and they will be obviously desperate to bounce back on Saturday.

"We will just have to match their intensity early.

"But I fancy our chances as long as we play our style of footy and don't deviate too far from what has stood us in good stead over the past month."

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The Swans were buoyed last week by the mid-season arrival of five-time Wodonga Raiders best and fairest winner Mark Doolan.

Doolan retired at the start of last season but has been coaxed back into playing by the Swans.

He proved to have an immediate impact after booting three goals playing primarily out of the goal square.

"Dool's wasn't meant to play his first game to this week but said he was right to go last week, so we just played him out of the square," he said.

"He was fairly impressive considering it was his first hit-out of the season.

"He's happy just to sit at full-forward until he gains a bit of match fitness and then he might rotate through the midfield as well.

"He pulled-up well which is a big tick for us.

"It just gives us another option down there which we are going to need against those better sides so we are less predictable when going forward."

Whitehead is not expecting Mitta United spearhead Drew Cameron to play.

Cameron kicked three goals last week against Tallangatta but is due to undergo a knee reconstruction.

"We're hearing he won't play but we'll have to wait and see I guess," he said.

Whitehead said youngster Corey Sorenson was expected to return after copping a heavy knock against Barnawartha.

Chris Anderson, Jacob Romeril, Michael McWilliams, Rob Phibbs and Ash Van Klaveren were also sidelined last week.