THE Tamworth Swans will be out to make a statement in their round three AFL North West clash against the Inverell Saints on Saturday.
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Regarded by many within the competition as a team to watch in 2019, the Swans have had an indifferent start to the season.
They opened the season with an emphatic 144-point win over the Narrabri Eagles before crashing back to earth with a 94-point loss to the Gunnedah Bulldogs last week.
Meanwhile, the Saints have begun their premiership defence with back-to-back wins against Moree and the Nomads.
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Swans defender Liam Dunn told the Leader that Saturday's clash would be a chance for his side to prove themselves to the rest of the competition.
"Inverell are a really good side and it should be a really good test for us," Dunn said.
"We had our pants pulled down a bit last week, so we are all really keen to make up for it.
"For us, this week is really the time to step up and show the rest of the competition we are a team to watch."
Joining the Swans in 2018, Dunn said the club had "seen massive changes" during his short tenure.
"I first arrived at the club just before round one last year," he said.
"There weren't too many guys there and I think the feeling around the group was pretty low.
"Comparing that to this year has been very different as we have got great numbers and the feeling at training is really positive.
"We are all mates at the club and we are all trying to do whatever we can for each other.
"Hopefully we can take that out onto the field this weekend."
Dunn said the Swans would look to use their "short-kicking game" against the Saints on Saturday.
"At training we have been working really hard at lowering our eyes and hitting our targets by foot," he said.
"If we can get that short kicking happening and hit our targets we should go pretty well I think."
Saturday's action begins at Tamworth No.1 Oval from 12pm with the Swans v Saints women's game, followed by the men's match from 2pm.