SWANS midfielder Luke Ablett will happily swap the football for a chainsaw as he looks to cut a path through a different type of opponent this week.

The 25-year-old will use the club's bye weekend to clean up his overgrown backyard and may even get away with his girlfriend for a day or two.

"My body's feeling alright, it's more of a mental thing at the moment … just getting away from the footy club and the boys for a few days," Ablett said.

"We're all good mates but we see each other for 10 months of the year so you need to refresh."

Coach Paul Roos admitted the season was tough on the players' bodies, particularly with the side's contested style of play.

And that showed when last season's campaign ended with an elimination final loss to Collingwood in Melbourne.

The Swans looked ragged as the Pies built on an emphatic start to win by 38 points.

Ablett is hoping the mid-season break will be a springboard for the fourth-placed Swans to launch a sixth successive finals campaign, and they look well-placed after nine wins and a draw from 13 games.

"The last few years we haven't had any time off and it hasn't really worked so I guess it's a bit of an experiment to try something different," he said.

"And there are some obligations in terms of diet. You've got to look after yourself and you can't go out and drink every single night.

"Hopefully we play well after the break. And as far as thinking of games and performances, I'm pretty good at switching off."

Ablett, a member of the 2005 and 2006 grand final sides, has played all bar one game this season and averages just shy of 15 possessions.

The players have a light training program this week before upping the ante on Sunday ahead of the blockbuster with Collingwood.

"We'd normally start on a Tuesday," said Ablett. "But it'll be good to get back in before our usual training week starts.