DAYNE Zorko says Brisbane would be "foolish" to believe an embattled Sydney side is toothless heading into a blockbuster qualifying final.

And the Lions veteran was given a timely reminder of how unpredictable finals football can be after watching Hawthorn pull off a 32-point qualifying-final upset of premiership favourite Fremantle.

>> Don't miss a moment of thrilling finals action! Watch Sydney v Brisbane LIVE in the qualifying final from 3.15pm AEST on Seven, 7plus, Kayo Sports and Fox Footy 

The Swans have been largely written off by the football world after Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner were suspended for failing to meet club standards following an early morning incident that remains under police investigation.

Sydney won its final-round match against North Melbourne a week later, but their premiership odds have ballooned after bookies had the second-placed side among the favourites to win the flag.

Even Sydney’s leadership has questioned the Swans’ chances, with chairman Andrew Pridham describing the player suspensions as "effectively torpedoing our season".

But Zorko says the reigning premiers aren't buying into the rhetoric around Saturday’s clash at the SCG in their chase for a three-peat.

"You've got All-Australians littered through that side still," Zorko said.

"Dane Rampe has been in four Grand Finals. Brodie Grundy has been one of the premier ruckmen of the competition for a very long time.

"Errol Gulden, his last month has been phenomenal … I was going to say we haven't got an Olympic-style runner who can run with Errol Gulden, unfortunately.

"You've got a Coleman Medallist (Charlie Curnow) sitting in the forward line as well. 

"We understand there are massive threats still on that side and we'll be foolish if we think we're going to just take them for what's happened over the last few weeks."

If anything, Zorko said the Swans have a "superpower".

"The resilience they showed in that game (against North) and what I saw after that was a group that was determined and galvanised more than ever," Zorko said.

"They want to go deep in this final series and having that superpower that your team comes together like that and you're playing for one another is a really dangerous thing to have."

Zorko also pointed to Hawthorn's smash-and-grab triumph over Fremantle on Thursday night, with the Hawks holding the minor premiers to one goal at half-time.

It was Fremantle's first defeat at Optus Stadium this season, having put together a 14-game winning streak at one stage on the way to a league-best 19-4 record.

"Finals is a completely different kettle of fish than what a home-and-away season game is," Zorko said.

"There are certain aspects of your game that you just need to get right with non-negotiables in finals and last night we saw that in Hawthorne's game.

"They were superb, and they would have probably beaten anyone out there last night. 

"For Fremantle, we were in a very similar situation last year against Geelong. They took us to school, and we learnt a hell of a lot off that."