Rhyce Shaw believes announcing his retirement on the eve of the finals series released the pressure valve ahead of the veteran’s Sydney swansong.

Saturday night’s semi-final at ANZ Stadium will be Shaw’s last match on home turf with the next two (potential) games scheduled for Perth and Melbourne.

The 33-year-old announced season 2015 would be his last on the eve of the Swans’ Round 21 clash against GWS in a conscious and selfless move to divert any additional attention away.

In doing so, Shaw admitted a weight had been lifted in preparation for his final weeks as an AFL footballer.

“It was just a good time for me and it has probably has freed me up,” Shaw said.

“I’ve just been concentrating on my footy, trying to get the best out myself every week and it has worked out well in that respect.

“But we still didn’t get over the line last weekend. There are still a lot of areas I and the team can improve in.”

Shaw was one of the best performed in the Swans’ narrow loss to Fremantle, gathering 25 disposals while showcasing that renowned dash supporters have come to know.

Shaw will have played 237 games after Saturday night’s do-or-die clash against North Melbourne, 143 since the then 27-year-old crossed over from Collingwood in 2008.

In what will be his 78^th appearance in front of an adoring home crowd, Shaw dismissed the sentimental side of the occasion in favour of making sure there was still two pages left in his footbal story.

“It will be my last game in Sydney but I’m confident it won’t be my last game all up, and that’s all I’m worried about at the moment,” Shaw said.

“I’m really confident in the way we’re going about our football, you have to in finals, otherwise there’s no next week.”

Fellow defender Nick Smith was the Swans’ only change ahead of Saturday night’s showdown, with the All-Australian backman replacing Sam Reid who tore his hamstring against the Dockers.