Sydney defender Martin Mattner hopes lessons learnt in Adelaide will help the Swans taste a rare victory against their bogey side at the SCG on Saturday night.

Mattner, who moved from Adelaide to Sydney this season, will be playing his first game against his former club.

The Crows are one of the few teams to enjoy a positive record against the Swans since Paul Roos took over halfway through the 2002 campaign.

Adelaide have won eight of their last nine clashes with Sydney and each of the last four since losing by 45 points at the SCG four years ago.

“When I was at Adelaide they prided themselves on beating Sydney because they were a pretty good team and at that stage in 2005 and 2006 Sydney were going really well,” Mattner said.

“They were the No.1 side in the midfield, but hopefully I can bring a few things that I learnt at Adelaide and bring them across to Sydney and hopefully get away with a win on the weekend.”

Mattner said he would love to see forward Barry Hall restored to the side.

“He’s a key important part of the team and he’s shown in the last year or two how important he is to the team and when he’s played, he’s played really well and we’ve won a lot of our games,” Mattner said.

“To have him back would be great.”

Adelaide has slumped to ninth on the back of five straight losses, but Mattner still expected the Crows to force their way into the eight.

“They’ve had some key injuries, Brett Burton and Jason Porplyzia their two key forwards going down has hurt them, but they are a good side and I think they are going to bounce back this week and throw a real challenge,” Mattner said.

Mattner said Sydney’s second-half comeback against Carlton last week could represent a turning point in the Swans’ season after they lost their two previous games.

“Two losses in a row is a big thing especially when Michael O’Loughlin and Ryan O’Keefe and Leo Barry go off,” Mattner said.

“It’s a big thing, two players on the bench in the last half.

“The guys played really well and there were some guys hurting in the last quarter. I guess that’s what makes a good team is to win those tight games.”

The 25-year-old South Australian was cleary relishing his role with Sydney after 98 games in six seasons with Adelaide.

He has played every game so far this season and has regularly earned the plaudits from Roos.

“For me it’s been a great move a new start, new faces and a new challenge too,” Mattner said.

Forward Ryan O’Keefe and fullback Leo Barry are likely to undergo injury tests later in the week.

Free Email updates:

• Get a daily AFL email

Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...

© 2007 AAP