The ruck battle looms as crucial to the outcome in the premiership decider, especially now that revitalised Swans tall Sam Reid is in serious doubt to play on Saturday.
At the centre of it will be Hickey and Stanley, as the two rucks meet in the biggest match of their careers after playing together at St Kilda from 2013-14.
Stanley spent as much time forward as in the centre square in those years at the Saints, but has become a first-choice ruck since moving to the Cats.
"He's a good man Rhys. I've had some good battles with him over time," Hickey told AAP.
"We still keep in contact, so I'm really looking forward to coming up against him.
"He's so athletic; he can jump, he even won a grand final sprint back in 2009.
"He's also super strong. He's probably the strongest bencher I've ever seen.
"But I know all his strengths, I just need to nullify them on Saturday."
The Swans' ruck stocks look set to take a hit with Reid sustaining an adductor injury and being substituted out of Saturday's preliminary final against Collingwood at half-time.
Reid has played the last 14 matches and kicked 17 goals in that time while also pinch-hitting for Hickey in the ruck in a stunning return to form after being one of the last Swans offered a contract for this season.
Young talls Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean are in line to replace the 2012 premiership player if needed, with the Swans unlikely to run out with Hickey as their sole ruckman.
"Both of those guys have played really good football when they've come in and if one of them gets the nod then I'll be pumped for them and ready to support them," Hickey said.
"I play 100 to 110 minutes a game so we're probably only talking 15 to 20 minutes for someone else to ruck anyway."
Hickey has been a journeyman through his 12 AFL seasons, becoming the first player to represent four clubs from four different states, but had only played one final before joining the Swans at the end of 2020.
"I thought there was a chance of playing in a grand final at West Coast but in the end the last two years here at Sydney have just been a dream," said Hickey, a Queenslander who started his AFL career with the Gold Coast.
"Before every game, I walk around the field and I try to soak up everything I can, and I'll do that again on Saturday because it might be my only chance."
