Sydney Swans defender Heath Grundy said this week’s trip to Wellington was a welcome addition to the Swans fixture in 2013.

Speaking from Wellington Airport this afternoon, Grundy said the trip across the Tasman and the opportunity to play in Thursday’s historic Anzac Day clash with St Kilda was something he and his team mates had been looking forward to.

“I think it’s good, it just broadens the game a little bit and breaks the season up,” Grundy said on Monday afternoon.

“We go to Melbourne and Adelaide and places like that, but it’s good to get over here.

“It’s not too different because it’s only a (few) hours away from Sydney, whereas Perth is still a little bit further and Adelaide is not much different.

“We’ve come over for a couple of days as well, so we get to train over here which makes it enjoyable because it gives the guys a little bit of time to look around, which is good as well.”

The key defender won’t be short of support come match day at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, with a number of Grundy’s relatives in the stands for the match.

Grundy, whose mother and grandmother were born in New Zealand, said a number of his Kiwi family members would be cheering him on.

“My mum was born (in New Zealand) and was here for about four years, so she moved over with her family when she was pretty young,” he said

“My nan has actually come over for the game, back from  Adelaide, so she’s looking forward to that and a bit of family who have been over here the whole time are coming to the game which will be their first AFL game, which is really exciting.

“This is the first time I’ve been to New Zealand so I’m really looking forward to catching up with them and hopefully we play a good game of footy so they can enjoy it and get on the Swans bandwagon.”

With up to 20,000 fans expected for this historic clash in Wellington, Grundy added that he hoped the club could attract some new red and white fans this week.

“I think there will be some people just coming down to see what it’s like and then I’m sure there are some followers of AFL here who will know quite a bit so it will probably be a mixed bunch but I’m sure they will enjoy the game,” he said.

“We’ve got a couple of followers (in Wellington), which was good and hopefully after the game we can get a few more jumpers next time we’re over here at some stage."

While Grundy admitted the team would enjoy a change of scenery in Wellington this week, the defender made it clear the Swans’ number one focus was to bring home the four points this week.

Following the 21-point loss to Geelong at the SCG last Friday night, Grundy said the Swans were keen to turn their form around in Wellington.

“We’re over here now so we need to play a strong game of footy and get the four points and we’ve got a job to do, it’s not a holiday,” he said,

“We’re here to get the four points and it’s really important to start the season well and after a couple of days ago against Geelong, we want to turn that around and play Swans football and I think if we can turn that around this week it will put us in good stead.

“We need to lift there and that’s the focus this week to bring the pressure and our trademark footy and hopefully that puts us in good stead to have a win.”