THE sharp decline in attendances for Swans games at ANZ Stadium this year looks likely to continue on Sunday with the club anticipating between 40,000 and 45,000 for the game against struggling Essendon.

Last year, a total of 190,180 turned up for Sydney's three ANZ Stadium games, with Saturday night matches against West Coast, Collingwood and St Kilda all drawing well over 60,000.

That activated a clause in the club's contract with the Olympic venue that stated the Swans would have to play a fourth match at ANZ Stadium this year if they averaged more than 55,000 a game - something the club had not been eager to do. In round four this season, just 44,235 attended the Swans game against their modern-day rivals West Coast and a similar crowd is expected on Sunday.

The decline of the once powerful Eagles and Bombers has not helped promote the Swans' initial matches at the ground.

The absence of Essendon's one-man publicity machine, sacked coach Kevin Sheedy, and the unusual timeslot, also will not help at the turnstiles.

It will be just the second time the Swans have played a home and away match on a Sunday afternoon at the Olympic venue. In round 20 in 2005, against Brisbane, 43,512 turned up.