The in-form Sydney Swans are wary not to slip into bye mode a week early when they confront bottom-placed Melbourne at Canberra's Manuka Oval on Sunday.

Having won their past five matches to move into the top four, running defender Martin Mattner said it was vital not to let their momentum slip heading into their mid-season break.

Playing in front of a likely small crowd in the national capital, the ex-Adelaide recruit said the Swans' mindset was going to be the key ingredient.

"Going into a bye weekend the following week, it is a big thing and that's what we've got to work on," Mattner said.

"Playing the bottom side, on a winning streak, and also going into a bye it's going to be a massive situation to be in, hopefully we can curb that (complacency) and play well and get a win."

Mattner noted the highly competitive performances by the Demons in the past two rounds against Collingwood and Richmond.

"If we can play really hard competitive footy like the Saints did (against Melbourne in round 10), they beat them pretty easily.

"We've just got to play our game and play hard contested footy, win the ball around the contests and then use the ball well going forward, I think we'll do very well if we can do that."

On paper, the Swans' form is difficult to gauge, given their winning streak over the past five rounds has come against sides in the bottom half of the ladder.

In the three preceding rounds, they lost to highly-ranked Geelong and the Western Bulldogs and drew with North Melbourne, with their only win against a current top eight side so far against the Brisbane Lions in round three.

Their run home is much tougher, playing all the other top eight in the last nine rounds, including Collingwood twice.

But Mattner was confident their improved form and top four berth was legitimate.

"When we played Geelong and the Western Bulldogs it showed where we were back then, I think we've improved a lot since then," he said.

Mattner said the return of Nick Malceski and Barry Hall from injury and suspension respectively, combined with youngsters such as Kieren Jack and Jarred Moore settling into the side, had made a big difference.

The strong form of forwards Michael O'Loughlin and Henry Playfair in Hall's absence also gave their attack a potent feel now that he had returned.

Mattner's combination with fellow attacking defenders Malceski and Tadhg Kennelly, delayed by injuries to Malceski and Kennelly, has also added drive.

"With all three of us playing pretty good footy at the moment, it sort of takes the pressure off the other guys too," he said.

"Also if one's drawn deeper in defence, that means there's two others further up the field to provide attacking options from the backline, so it's a good set-up."

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