Western Bulldogs star forward Barry Hall says he is not carrying too much emotion or expectation heading into Saturday's AFL clash with his former club Sydney in Canberra.

The match will be the 33-year-old former Sydney captain's first against the Swans since being forced to leave the club last year because of an inability to control his temper on the field.

Hall said he had been frequently reminded the match was coming up, but had been trying to treat it like any other.

"I haven't really put it on my radar that much," Hall told reporters on Wednesday.

"I guess stepping away from the Swans, I'm really in depth with the Western Bulldogs, I've just been concentrating on week to week, trying to get myself up and my body right and all that sort of stuff.

"So concentration certainly hasn't been on this game totally.

"But it's obviously always in the back of your mind that you're going to play your old club at some stage.

"I'm handling it okay, I guess Saturday I'll probably be a bit more nervous about it."

Hall said he was more concerned about trying to lift his own form, after quiet performances in the past two rounds.

But he said even that had not bothered him too much, as he was making a concerted effort not to expect too much of himself as an individual, to avoid his old frustrations resurfacing.

"I'm 33 years old now so I can't expect the best out of myself, if I do I'm kidding myself," he said.

"I've really made a conscious decision and the coaches and the football club have been great in that area, constantly reminding me that I've just got to do the things that everyone else is expected to do and not kick 10 goals every week, so that's been a great help."

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