Despite hanging on to fourth on the ladder, the Swans were handed a 24-point defeat by Adelaide last Saturday and are 1-3 since the split-round break.
The second-placed Dogs are also battling form after going down to Carlton and Geelong in consecutive weeks, making Sunday's clash a vital one for both clubs.
"They've said they're looking forward to playing us to get their hard edge back. And I think we need to do the same ourselves," O'Keefe said on Wednesday.
"When you go through some adversity, a bit of a speed hump it, galvanises the team but I'll think we'll come through it.
"If we want to be a contender we've really got to put some authority on the season and win some of these big games."
O'Keefe is having no trouble with his own form after 29 and 35 touches in the last two weeks.
The versatile forward feels the Swans are in the top four "by default" after a month that has shown a worrying drop in form and intensity across the board.
"It's a big game (against the Bulldogs) and we've got to find some form and a lot of guys need to step up," he said.
"Our hard work and dedication has got us by in the past, we've got to make sure we get back to that."
The 27-year-old noted that accuracy in front of goal has been an ongoing issue with the Swans registering 17 behinds against the Crows, six of them posters.
O'Keefe admitted that the poor conversion had cost his side matches but added that spearhead Barry Hall can only get better after his low-key return last week against Adelaide.
"There was a lot of focus on him. Now he's got that out of the way... if anyone's counting him out they'll have egg on their face."
Hall was restricted by excellent Crows defence to just one goal but kicked five goals from ten scoring shots the last time he played in Canberra, against Melbourne in round 13.
The Swans' run home includes premiers Geelong, bogey side Collingwood, the Brisbane Lions, and Fremantle next week at the SCG.
"Geelong is the benchmark," O'Keefe said. "They're not invincible and we always believe we can win when we play against anyone."
In good news for the Swans, defenders Nick Malceski and Leo Barry are expected to return on the weekend against the Bulldogs.
