Sydney midfielder Ben McGlynn says a return to winning contested ball is his team's main focus for the final month of the season.
The Swans are coming off successive hidings in the past fortnight, having gone down by 73 points to the Demons at the MCG in Round 17 and then by 53 points to the Cats at ANZ Stadium last weekend, leaving their finals hopes in the balance.
But rather than concentrate on the importance of Saturday's clash at the SCG against his former team Hawthorn, McGlynn said he and his team-mates are more intent on finishing the year well for a pair of departing club greats, coach Paul Roos and on-baller Brett Kirk.
"We want to give him (Kirk) and Roosy a great finish to their career here at the footy club and the last two weeks we haven't done that but hopefully for the next four we forget finals and just play that footy we know Paul has set up for the football club for the future," McGlynn said.
Central to what Roos has set up for the list that John Longmire will inherit at season's end is that focus on dominating the contests for the ball, according to McGlynn.
"I think we've just got to get back to playing hard, contested footy and that's what we're going to focus on the next four weeks," he added.
"If we can get that then we'll look to finals but in the footy club we just take week by week and we have to get back to playing hard, contested footy."
"The Melbourne one (defeat) was a very embarrassing loss more than just a disappointing loss, and Geelong are a quality side and we let them into the game with our poor skill execution but I think if we get that right and (win) the hard, contested footy we'll hopefully win a game of footy."
Sidelined when the Swans travelled to Melbourne to take on the Hawks in Round 10, with the hosts prevailing by a couple of points, McGlynn can't wait to line up against his former club along with the team-mate he shifted north with, Josh Kennedy.
"(I'm) looking forward to it, I missed out earlier in the year due to injury," McGlynn said.
"I'm really looking forward to running out there against them and having a bit of fun."
"Hawthorn just missed out in the game last week, they should have won, so they'll be coming out to have a real hard crack and they want to get a home final and we want to make finals so it's going to be a good battle this weekend."
"Hopefully I can get a win this week and the group get a win and it will be even better if it's against Hawthorn."
As for how his old side is going, McGlynn has little doubt the Hawks can again challenge for a flag two years after shocking the Cats on the last Saturday in September.
"Earlier in the year obviously they were disappointing but I think they've changed their game and they've got the talent there," he said.
"I reckon they'll go very far in September regardless of finishing outside of the four."