An 84-year-old man has fought off two brawny, armed intruders and chased them from his home at Port Macquarie, police say.

The man was alone and asleep in his bedroom when two hooded men broke in with a hammer and metal pole about 2am on Sunday, police said. One of the men also armed himself with a kitchen knife on his way to the bedroom.

The intruders demanded money and the elderly man pointed them towards his wallet on a chest of drawers, police said, adding that he tried to get out of his bed but was struck on the arms with the pole.

Police said he then fought the other intruder, who was armed with a knife and hammer. While struggling with the man on the floor, the 84-year-old broke the blade off the knife. The intruder tried to hit him with the hammer and the elderly man stabbed him in the stomach.

He then disarmed the other man with the pole and chased both men from his house.