SYDNEY Swans' utility Ted Richards says a win on Sunday is crucial for the Swans to consolidate their victory last weekend.

Richards believes it is important for the Swans, who face the Western Bulldogs at Canberra's Manuka Oval, to win consecutive matches as they approach the middle of the season.

"This week we can really consolidate last week's win. If we don’t win, we're back to where we were two weeks ago, so we really need to win to yet some momentum," he said.

"It's funny how quickly the season goes. We're almost half-way through so we really need to string a couple of wins together instead of playing inconsistent football."While the Swans are not yet in peak form, the former Essendon player was encouraged by his team's performance last weekend.

"We're definitely not at our best but I think there were a lot of positive signs last week, and that comes from getting our intensity back and getting that run that we kind of missed for the last few weeks.

"There's definitely room for improvement."

The difference between an in-form Swans side and one that struggles is intensity, according to Richards.

"When we're playing well there's heaps of talk, we're up-tempo, we're hitting into packs hard, we're tackling, we're clean with our skills," he said.

"When we're not playing too well we seem to be standing back a bit, trailing out opponents in and being second to the ball. A common theme is our intensity. When we're up everything else seems to follow and when we're not a lot of other things don't work."

The Swans have had mixed success at Manuka in the last few years, but always attract a crowd.

Scheduled to play two games there this season, the Swans are arguably the home team despite it officially being classified as an away match.

"I wouldn't say we have a home ground advantage, but we definitely appreciate the fact we have a lot of supporters in Canberra," Richards said.

"Whenever we go there we're always welcomed and get a really good reception. It doesn't feel like an away game to us."