Ryan O’Keefe hasn’t taken too much time to sit back and enjoy yesterday’s 92-point win over the Bulldogs.

Instead the 31-year-old has turned his focus to the massive challenge ahead of the Swans, taking on second-placed Essendon this weekend in Melbourne.

Speaking from recovery at Balmoral Beach this afternoon, O’Keefe said Saturday night’s clash with the Bombers is going to be one of the Swans’ toughest contests for the season.

“(Essendon) are going to come out firing for sure and are a great side and are sitting on equal top for a reason, so they’re going to come out fierce and we’ve got to brace ourselves and get ready for a pretty big battle,” he said.

“Essendon are a good side and have only lost a couple of games, and they turn it on most weeks.

“We can’t really control what they do or how they are going to approach the game but we’ve just got to prepare for their best, which is pretty good.”

O’Keefe said it was the Bombers’ up-and-coming players that have contributed to their improved form in 2012.

“I suppose it’s just that next tier of players for them that has really stepped up,” he said.

“In most teams the top players are generally pretty good, but it’s that next level of players that really make the difference in your side, and I think that’s what (Essendon) have done.”

While the Swans’ Melbourne record stands at a disappointing 0-2 to date in 2012, O’Keefe is adamant his team are more than capable of achieving wins on the road.

He said despite the Swans’ recent losses, he is confident the team can bring their best to any ground across the country.

“It doesn’t make a difference (if it’s an away game). Two of our losses were away games but we’ve won away games, so I think generally our away record has been reasonably good,” he said.

“It’s just another ground somewhere else.

“We’re comfortable at home, and it’s good to sleep in your own bed, but it’s the way the game is played and it’s been like that for years.

“It’s a national game and you’ve got to travel well because every team, except for the Melbourne teams, have to travel well otherwise you wouldn’t win too many games of footy.”

O’Keefe said the Swans will be aiming to go into the break following the Essendon game on the back of successive wins, an important step in consolidating their position on the ladder

“Every win counts,” he said

“If you’re trying to make the finals then you need to keep ticking the wins over, so every win is important.

“When you come towards the end of the year you want to make sure you’ve put yourself in the best possible position to play finals.

“Obviously if you want to challenge for the finals then you’ve got to beat the top sides, so obviously  (Essendon) are going to be a great test for us to see how we go against a top-four side.”