After a much-needed week off, Dan Hannebery said the Sydney Swans are ready to attack the second half of the season.

With eight wins and a draw on the board at the halfway point of the year, the midfielder said the team was determined to equal or better their output in the remaining 11 games of the season.

“I think we’d like to maintain our position or try to improve (our position),” Hannebery said.

“I think we’ve got an important four or five weeks to consolidate our position on the ladder and I think that it’s important to prepare really well each week and to try to get better as a side, and winning is a fundamental part of that.

“We want to make sure that we try to win as many games as possible and in doing that, we need to focus on training really well, maintaining our processes and improving as a side.”

The players enjoyed a four day break last week before returning to the club on Saturday to begin their preparations for this weekend’s round 13 clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Hannebery said the bye week was an opportunity for the team to rest and recover before tackling the second half of the year.

“I had a couple of days here in Sydney and took it pretty easy, and then I went back to Melbourne for a couple of days for a few commitments I had down there,” he said.

“By the time the break comes the guys are ready for it and I think after 12 games plus the pre-season games and a long pre-season, everyone is ready for a few days off because it is a long year.

“Now we’re back here, so we’ve had some good time off and the players are ready and are feeling fresh and are looking forward to attacking the second half of the year.”

The 22-year-old is on track to record a career-best season, and has been one of the Swans’ stand-out performers for the season to date.

After 11 matches, the midfielder has averaged 27.8 possessions per game including an equal career-high 42 disposals against Adelaide in round 11 as well as a career-best four goals against Fremantle in round eight.

Despite posting impressive individual numbers this year, Hannebery said his improvement was a by-product of the Swans midfield’s work rate.

“I’ve not been doing anything too different, I just have been working with my team mates in the midfield and making sure we work together as a side,” Hannebery said.

“We’ve had another year together and another pre-season also helps, and we’ve all just been working with the coaches and have just gained general experience with games and training.

“It’s been nothing too different; I’ve just been working well with my other team mates.”

The Swans will receive another boost this weekend with key forward Kurt Tippett set to make his Swans debut against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Hannebery said Tippett, who he lives with in North Bondi, can’t wait to pull on the red and white guernsey this weekend.

“He’s really excited,” he said.

“I think he can’t wait and it’s been a long time coming.

“He’s trained really hard and he deserves his spot in the side with the way he’s been going at training.”

Hannebery said he had even provided his new housemate with a little bit of advice leading into his first game.

“I think he’s a bit nervous as well and I could tell on the weekend he was a bit jittery around the house and I just gave him a bit of a slap on the back last night and told him to loosen up and relax!” he said.

“I told him to enjoy it because he’s a good player and he’s been training well so he shouldn’t have any worries.”