REPEATEDLY over the past month, the Sydney Swans have been faced with games that were classified as must-win.

It started in round 17 with a match against Fremantle at the SCG that was then a battle for sixth place on the ladder, which the visitors won by 11 points.

The Swans then enjoyed a 39-point win over the Western Bulldogs that kept them in the top eight, but that was the last time they have sung the team song.

After a bye the Swans suffered a one-point defeat to Essendon before last week's surprise 43-point capitulation to Richmond.

Next up, the eighth-placed Swans take on sixth-placed St Kilda at ANZ Stadium on Sunday and, without doubt, it has again earned must-win status for the home side.

"It is now. It's pretty tight. It's one of those games where it's just got to turn around for us," Swans midfielder Ryan O'Keefe said.

"But even if we do scrape in [to the finals] but don't have good form running into it, it's as if you don't really deserve to be there anyway, you're just making up the numbers.

"So we've got to make sure we have form running into the finals and these games are critical to win."

The Swans have only spent one week outside the top eight all season - sitting ninth after a round-six loss to Carlton.

Many at the club have said it would be a huge blow if they were to slip out of finals contention in the dying weeks of the home and away season.

But rather than dwelling on that potential scenario, O'Keefe believes it could only take one game for the Swans to recapture their best form.

"It's always a long season, so it's about trying to sustain that form to be able to make the finals," he said.

"And then the critical part is being in form at the business end of the year.

"We've got three weeks to go and have to make sure we get back to some form.

"You're only one week away from being back in form. Footy's a pretty fickle game."

Less than three years ago, O'Keefe was keen on a return home to Melbourne before a proposed trade to Hawthorn fell through.

Looking back the 30-year-old, who became a father two years ago, is very content with the way everything unfolded.

"Sydney's a great place," said O'Keefe, a leading contender for his second Bob Skilton Medal this year.

"That all happened (the trade possibility) and now I'm very happy, so hopefully I can continue for a few more years.

"I think things happen for a reason and you come out of it and now I'm in a position where I'm happy."

O'Keefe was a member of the 2005 premiership side and while he is sad some of his mates have moved on, including Leo Barry, Barry Hall and Ben Mathews, he feels there are exciting times ahead.

"It's sad to see your old mates go, but that's just the cycle of footy I think and these new kids come in who are exciting and enthusiastic and bring a whole new set of skills," he said.

"I think most successful teams have a core group of players that play together for a fair while.

"I think this group can achieve that and play a fair bit of footy together and you only get better that way."