TENDAI Mzungu says despite the hype and excitement on the streets of Fremantle this week it has been business as usual for the Dockers ahead of the preliminary final against the Sydney Swans.

The Dockers have not changed their approach to this match in any way, even though it is being billed as the biggest match in the history of the club.

"There is a buzz around town and everyone is excited and obviously the players are really excited as well but nothing has really changed and it doesn't feel too different," Mzungu told AFL.com.au.

Having earned the week off, courtesy of an historic 15-point win over Geelong in the qualifying final at Simonds Stadium, Mzungu says the Dockers have recharged.

"It was great for a bit of a freshen up," Mzungu said.

"We watched Sydney and Carlton play on Saturday night and learnt a little bit from them. It's hard to know exactly what difference that will have on the weekend but obviously it was nice to have a week off."

The 27-year-old utility believes the win over the Cats has given the side enormous confidence and a blueprint for how they need to perform against the Swans.

"We were a little bit disappointed with how we started but once we clicked we were really pleased with our effort," Mzungu said.  

"It starts with the effort and we thought we really hunted them and played some really good footy.

"We know that's what it takes, especially in finals.

"We need to produce that over four quarters against a Sydney Swans side who we rate very highly."

Mzungu's journey to this point has been quite remarkable. The last time the Dockers played in a preliminary final in 2006, Mzungu had just completed his first season of WAFL football with Perth, having been recruited from amateur club Trinity Aquinas.

He would play 72 matches at WAFL level over five years, including winning Perth's best and fairest in 2010, before he was finally drafted to Fremantle as a 24-year-old after being repeatedly overlooked.

He made his AFL debut in round nine of 2011 against Port Adelaide and amazingly has not missed a game since.

"I haven't thought about it but it's nice from where I came from, starting late," Mzungu said.

"When I started I didn't really want to miss a moment or an opportunity. But to play that many in a row is really pleasing."

But the 61-game streak nearly ended at 45 in round eight of this season against the 2012 premiers.

"Earlier in the year my form wasn't great and that Sydney game I was actually dropped and only through a late replacement did I get a reprieve. I suppose for me that was the turning point of my year," Mzungu said.

"After that game I realised how much I wanted to be in the side."