Geelong have their sights set on a Saturday night blockbuster, as they prepare for a Grand Final re-match with the Sydney Swans.

After a successful trip to Adelaide for the inaugural AFL Gather Round, the Cats will return home for their first game at GMHBA Stadium in the 2023 season.

The round six clash will mark the first meeting between Geelong and Sydney, since the Cats 81-point demolition of the Swans in the 2022 Grand Final.

Veteran Cat, Mitch Duncan says he and the team are looking forward to the challenge that awaits them on Saturday night.

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"It's going to be an exciting challenge," Duncan told media this week. 

"Both teams are a bit different, it's exciting to unveil the premiership flag to the fans. It just so happens we play Sydney, but it's going to be an exciting night for the fans to see that and to get back to playing at GMHBA Stadium. 

"It's going to be great to play in front of a full stadium, full of Cats fans.”

Sydney last travelled to Kardinia Park in 2019, but are one of the few teams to better the Cats at home during their most dominant periods.

In the Swans last four visits to GMHBA Stadium, they have notched three wins while holding Geelong to less than 90-points on all four occasions.

Duncan said the Cats are prepared for what Sydney could throw at them on Saturday night.

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Mitch Duncan Press Conference | Round 6

Mitch Duncan spoke to the media at open training in the lead up to the Round 6 match with Sydney. Presented by Ford.

"It will be a hot contest," he said.

"Every contest against Sydney is a challenging one, they're a very well drilled side with John Longmire and his coaching staff up there. 

"They had a great win on the weekend, despite being undermanned and they managed to find a way. We're looking forward to the challenge, looking forward to getting our game going and getting it to the best standard we can. 

"As I said, another challenge and one we're looking forward to.”

"Geelong will unfurl their 2022 Premiership flag on Saturday night, providing an opportunity for the Cats faithful to enjoy the team’s recent success in their home opener, but Duncan says that the Grand Final result will hold no influence on the clash this weekend.

“I don’t think it will have an impact, to be honest,’ he said. 

“It's a completely different season and there's a lot of different personnel playing in the game as well. I think it's just another challenging home and away season game, which most matches are at the moment.”

Geelong are trending in a positive direction, following back-to-back wins in round’s four and five to move them just one win outside the top-eight. 

This Saturday’s clash with Sydney will start a tough stretch of games for the Cats, who will face Essendon, Richmond and an in-form Adelaide in the coming weeks. 

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Duncan said that this stretch will be an important one for the Cats, who will look to find their best footy over the coming stretch. 

"It is part of the process,” Duncan said.

“I think Essendon are in really good form, Richmond are Richmond and that is always a tough game, Sydney and Adelaide are playing unbelievable footy as well. 

“Every game is a challenge at the minute, I'm sure the AFL would be wrapped with how the season is panning out because any team on their day can win a game of footy. 

“We're just going to focus on ourselves and getting our game going the best we can. I think if we can get our brand going for longer periods of the game, we can usually come out on top. 

“That's our challenge at the minute and one that we're looking forward to.”