Sydney star Ryan O'Keefe believes as few as 40 points will earn an AFL finals berth in 2009 and hopes to be part of another upset win over St Kilda this weekend.

The Swans' seemingly extinguished finals hopes were revived following Sunday's scrappy win over Melbourne and losses for Carlton, Essendon, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.

Now Sydney find themselves only one win out of eighth spot, albeit with a tough run home which includes games against finals certainties St Kilda, Geelong, Collingwood and Brisbane Lions.

"I suppose everyone, after last week's performance, said that was it and wrote us off," O'Keefe said on Monday.

"To have a win and a lot of results go our way, has got the boys up a bit and the possibility is still real, so I suppose everyone is getting a little excited.

"I think 10 wins will probably get you into the finals. Our percentage is probably not as strong as the others, but look, if we get a few wins on the board, who knows?"

Only one team, Brisbane in 1995, has made the finals with 40 points since the introduction of the final eight in 1994.

"I just think the way the season has panned out, a lot of teams have coughed up opportunities and I think 10 wins will get it," O'Keefe said.

Carlton are currently seventh on 36 points, ahead of Essendon, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide (all on 32) and Sydney on 28.

Sydney's next assignment is the daunting prospect of trying to end ladder-leader St Kilda's 17-match unbeaten start to the season.

O'Keefe recalled being part of a similar upset victory at the SCG in June 2004, when the Swans ended the Saints' 10-match start to that campaign.

"It was wet, it was just one of those games. It was just real pressure and everyone playing their role," O'Keefe said.

"We've done it before and, look, we're going out to win, that's for sure.

"We're not here to muck about."

The half-forward turned midfielder said the key to beating Saints was to match their pressure, something Sydney has done well in recent years, but struggled to do over four quarters this season.

"We haven't been as consistent and that's probably why we haven't won as many games as we have in the past and that's an area we have to improve, O'Keefe said.

He noted definite similarities in styles between the Swans and the Saints, with the latter having been coached for almost three years now by former Sydney assistant Ross Lyon.

"Definitely you see very big similarities, but there's no secret to how we played and it's not secret how St Kilda plays," O'Keefe said.

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