WHILE the weather may suggest otherwise, we are into September - and Adam Goodes believes his team's ability to play September football gives the Swans confidence they can beat North Melbourne tonight, along with any of the other six finalists, including Geelong.

Goodes confirmed he would be back tonight after taking last week off to rest his injured groin. He liked what he saw in Sydney's 10-goal win over Brisbane, and he believes they can now translate that form into finals football.

"There's definitely that change in the team's confidence from the weekend to have had such a good win against Brisbane," Goodes said. "The way we did it was really pleasing, the way we moved the ball on, our tackling and, having to watch from the stands, it was really pleasing to watch a really good team performance - and that's what it was - across the board.

"We know if we can play the way we did against Brisbane, that sort of September game style, we know it has worked for us in the past. A lot of us senior guys have that confidence that if we can play to the ability that we know we can play, then we can beat anyone, and that's what we've got to get out there and do."

Barry Hall agreed, adding it was simply a matter of being able to play four consistent quarters.

"There is still a strong belief there," Hall said. "I think that's the feeling from the players' point of view and even the coach has come out and said if we play our best footy, we can still beat anyone in the comp. Even against Geelong we weren't in the best form but we outplayed them for two quarters only to get blown away in the other two.

"So it's not a physical thing. We showed we can do it, we've seen it in bursts, and if we weren't up to the standard any more, we wouldn't have seen that at all. It's just pretty much mental, staying switched on for the entire game."

Goodes safely negotiated training on Thursday night and, along with Ryan O'Keefe (who did not play last week), will come into the team for the ANZ Stadium clash.

Youngster Craig Bird is in doubt though, still struggling with a groin injury, with Pat Veszpremi - less than a week after his 19th birthday - set to be called into the team in Bird's place. Heath Grundy has been taken from the emergency list after he pulled up sore after training with a groin problem.

"Jesse White will come in for Heath Grundy, and Craig Bird didn't train last night, so there's got to be a bit of doubt over him," coach Paul Roos said. Sydney's wet weather will have done little to encourage people to ANZ Stadium for the match. Ticket sales have been slower than Eric the Eel, and the 50,000 hoped for by the Swans is extremely unlikely.

"They have never played at ANZ Stadium so there is definitely going to be some sort of advantage for us, and whether there is a big crowd there or not, I still think we will have that home ground advantage," Goodes said.

"It would be great to get a big crowd, say 50,000, out there, but whatever [crowd] does come, they are the heart and soul of the footy club.

"They are the ones who have been there all year and we know they will be cheering just as hard as if there is 50,000 out there."

Goodes said he was happy with the way he got through training, and said he would not hold back tonight.

"If we lose this week, there is no more games - so I'm going to be going at 110 per cent," he said.