If last year’s round 11 game against the Brisbane Lions is any guide, Swans utility Lewis Roberts-Thomson could find himself spending much of this Saturday’s match up forward.

The versatile Swan, who has spent time in the backline, the ruck and up forward this season, was a stand-out against the Lions at the Gabba last year, registering a career-best three-goal haul.

In recent times, Roberts-Thomson has kicked six goals in the past five games, including two two-goal returns against the Western Bulldogs and GWS, and has stood up as a strong target in the Swans forward line.

But despite those results, the 28-year-old said settling down in one position is not part of his job description.

“I think currently my role is playing up forward and it’s providing a bit of structure as a key target up there, but moving forward if there is an area that a coach needs me to fill, then that will be my role,” Roberts-Thomson told sydneyswans.com.au.

“Each week you go into the game with your focus points and you understand the role that you need to play for the team, and that could be a different position each week.

“Earlier this year I was playing that forward/second ruckman role so I really needed to focus on more midfield aspects of the game, whereas now it’s more forward based, but it doesn’t really bother me, I just enjoy playing footy and it’s really good being part of a winning side.”

Robert-Thomson said he was pleased with his form so far this season, particularly after suffering a number of injury setbacks.

“Body wise I’m ok now,” he said.

“I’ve recovered from the head knock on the weekend, so there are no issue there, and the foot injury that I’ve had for the majority of the year is slowly coming good and the cheek is fine - and I’ve got rid of the helmet.

“I think the way I’m playing at the moment is what the coaches want from me and it’s what my team mates are expecting from me.

“It’s providing a contest and it’s about having a high work rate on the field and it’s about playing my role for the team, and I think I can tick off all those boxes at this stage.”

Despite the Swans recent history against that Lions, which has seen the Swans win the last four matches between the two clubs, Roberts-Thomson said there was no doubt this weekend’s clash looms as a dangerous fixture for the Swans.

“I think the way they have been playing over the last month has been pretty physical and they’ve been really hard at the contest,” Roberts-Thomson said of the Lions.

“They’ve got their senior players leading from the front like Jonathan Brown and Simon Black and then a lot of their young guys are really stepping up and taking on a fair bit of responsibility, so they are in a little bit of form.

“I think across the board they’ve got a great mix of experience and youth coming through, and I think the run that they create from half-back and through the midfield can be pretty damaging.”

He added that the closeness of this year’s competition and the battle for a top eight finish will give the Lions even greater motivation heading into Saturday’s match.

“You do really need to be on your toes when you play against the Lions,” he said.

“I think from the Lions point of view they are sort of on the brink of being in the eight, so they are contemplating playing finals down the track.

“It’s definitely going to be a really tight contest against them, and we’re going to have to be at our best.”