THE SYDNEY Swans secured top spot on the AFL ladder for a third consecutive week with Sunday's victory over St Kilda and defender Marty Mattner says the club has every intention of staying there.

The Swans traditionally like to keep a lid on expectations, but the buzz is growing around a team riding a seven-game winning streak and sitting in an unusually lofty position.

Even in the club's Grand Final seasons of 2005-06, the Swans spent a grand total of one week in first place - in round one, 2005.

The last time the club spent this long atop the ladder was between rounds five and seven in 1998, while its minor premiership in 1996 was its first since 1945.

The Swans' dogged 29-point victory over St Kilda on Sunday ensured they would retain first place on the ladder for another week at least and Mattner says it is a position they intend to protect.

"Definitely, you always want to finish the season top and get that double chance, home final and those sort of things," he told reporters at the club's recovery session at Bondi Beach on Monday.

"As a team we're trying to get better every week and we want to keep top spot.

"It's hard to win from outside the top four, as has been shown in the last few years, to win finals and Grand Finals.

"So if we can finish in the top four, or even the top two to get that home final, would be great.

"We just have to keep improving."

Next up for the Swans is a trip to Metricon Stadium to face Gold Coast before they head to Etihad Stadium for a date with Carlton.

The Swans then have an incredibly tough final month, featuring games against Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong, and if they enter the finals still in first place, they will have earned it.

The club may be surpassing the outside expectations placed upon it entering the year, but Mattner said the Swans came into 2012 full of belief.

"Internally we had a great belief that we were going to go well this year," he said.

"And I think some of those games that we've won have added more belief.

"On the weekend even though St Kilda got off to a good start, we realised we were still in the game and had some shots on goal and just didn't kick straight.

"We turned it around later in the game.

"Last year we lost a few of those close games, but this year we've been able to win them."

James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD