Skipper Trent Cotchin says the Richmond players will enter Saturday's must-win clash with the Sydney Swans confident they can match it with the ladder leaders.

The last game the Tigers lost was incidentally against the Swans.

That was back in round 14 and came after a few weeks of improved form from Damien Hardwick's men, after their disastrous 50-point loss to Essendon in round 11.

Cotchin said the fact they narrowly lost to the Swans after leading by 26 points in the second quarter gave them confidence that Saturday wasn't mission impossible.

"I think we showed last time we played against them we can compete with them," Cotchin told AFL.com.au this week.

"We did our due diligence after that game. I think we only scored one goal in the second half, which you probably can't win games of footy doing.

"It was a real scrum/scrimmage sort of match in the last quarter as well.

"We take learnings out of that and confidence out of the way we've been playing but we also know they're on song at the moment and we're going to have to take something away from them."

The equation is simple this week. Win and the Tigers will play finals for a second consecutive season.

Lose and they have to rely on the results of other teams around them to hold onto eighth spot.

But even if they don't manage to play beyond Saturday, Cotchin says there is plenty of upside to be gained from the season.

He's developed another layer to his leadership style after being publically queried early on for not being demonstrative enough with his teammates.

And, the Tigers have learned they can in fact take their consistency to an increased level despite having their backs against the wall when they had won just three games from 13.

"To have the resolve and turn the corner midway through the season was a really good thing for our group," he said.

"We've probably taken a step back to come forward and I think all the great clubs do that at some stage.

"Hopefully at the end of the season, whenever that is, we'll be able to review it as a real positive move for us as a group."

Cotchin said he focused on staying positive and upbeat when the Tigers' season hit its rough patch.

The shock 17-point loss to Melbourne in round nine that followed the death of club great Tommy Hafey rocked them, while the Dreamtime at the 'G defeat by the Bombers proved a "turning point".

He's also been impressed at how the culture of the group has proven to be an influential part of their return to contention.

"I think we've got a culture here where we all rely on each other quite heavily and that's what you want in a footy club," he said.

"You talk about all the proud clubs that have been at the top for a long time and it just seems their culture is they can go to anyone and everyone in the side, whether it be one of the coaches or another player, even someone in admin as well.

"That's the sort of culture we're trying to drive and strive to have here at Tigerland. 

"Credit to our group, and not just our leadership group, our core group and our young leaders as well, we've all stepped up and the results are the proof of some hard work and the consistency in our performance."