Sydney Swans half-forward Will Hayward is riding a wave of team success to his career-best form but still refuses to look over the horizon to finals.

With North Melbourne storming home in the final term to get within four points and superstar Lance Franklin rested for the Round 22 clash, the Swans were searching for a forward to hit the scoreboard and put them back on course.

Up stepped the 22-year-old Hayward to take two strong marks in as many minutes and goal with both set shots.

The crunch goals capped an outstanding display from Hayward, who has booted 28 majors in 17 matches since forcing his way back into the starting line-up in round five.

The high-flying 186cm forward puts his influential form down to the joy of being part of a winning team.

"It has probably been my most consistent year since coming into the team,” Hayward said.

"I'm just really enjoying contributing and being part of this much team success. It's just a really good place to be at the moment and I'm just really enjoying my footy.”

The Swans have put a premium on fine-tuning their team and taking strong form into the finals, naming a strong side for their clash with Gold Coast on Saturday.

They resisted the urge to rest players ahead of finals, despite already being locked into playing a ‘home’ elimination final next week, and have instead recalled Franklin and defender Jake Lloyd after they were given a week off to freshen up.

Gun midfielder Callum Mills will also return after managing Achilles tendinitis that has plagued the 24-year-old for much of the season but only sidelined him for the past two matches.

"It's good to have three heavy-hitters come back into the side, they'll add a lot and really get us gelling before finals,” Hayward said.

"We're just locking in on Gold Coast and hopefully we can build some good form going into finals.

"But we're bouncing off the walls to get out there in September. I've only played one final in my time at the club, so to be able to play finals with all the boys here under some weird circumstances is very exciting.”

The Swans will have to overcome a poor recent record against the Suns to enter the finals with seven wins from the final eight rounds.

They lost to the Suns by 40 points at Metricon Stadium when the teams last met in round six and have only won once in their four clashes since 2017.

“They're hard-working, they run really hard, their contested work inside is really good,” Hayward said.

"We just need to make sure we bring our full intensity and pressure to the game and just do the basics well.

"It will just be about playing a high-pressure game and getting that feel before the finals. Then fine-tuning our basics and not doing too much with the ball, and just playing 'Bloods football'.”