Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says his side is as well-placed as possible to play AFL ladder-leaders St Kilda, but not because of a longer break.

But for two dollops of luck, the Bulldogs would take a 10-game winning streak into Saturday night's clash, as their only losses since their round-six defeat to St Kilda have been by two points to Geelong in round nine and one point to Collingwood in round 15.

Eade said the Bulldogs' good form, fitness and ability to win the hard ball bode well for a clash against the unbeaten Saints, and also a tough run-home, which included a trip to Brisbane to play the Lions and return bouts against the Cats and Magpies.

"Certainly the players have got confidence in their bodies and fitness level, we've proved we run the games out very well," he said on Tuesday.

"Our form line has been good for 10 weeks now, we've only lost two games, by two points and one point against top-four sides.

"... I don't know when it is the right time (to play St Kilda), but certainly the guys' confidence is up and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Eade rebuffed the suggestion made by St Kilda coach Ross Lyon that his side would start underdog because the Bulldogs played two nights earlier in round 16.

"You have a look at Hawthorn last week, they had a six-day break and Collingwood had an eight and they (the Hawks) won by seven goals," Eade said.

"I don't think that's going to be an issue on the weekend.

"Six-day breaks are more of an issue if you get back-to-back, if you get two in a row than it can affect you, but one six-day break is not an issue as proven by Hawthorn last week."

On recent form, the Bulldogs have finished games much stronger than their opponents, and Eade said that, combined with the return to form of the skilful Adam Cooney and Robert Murphy, was encouraging.

But he predicted Saturday night's clash would be decided by the team which applied the greater pressure, similar to the Saints-Cats slugfest of round 14.

"It's going to be like that, where there's not much free space for either team, and a fairly physical game," he said.

"We need to match them in that area and we need to be able to win the ball.

"We'll need to be able to win that hard ball, which we've been reasonable at."

Forward Mitch Hahn said the Bulldogs had to focus on moving the ball quickly against the Saints and not fall into the trap Adelaide did last Sunday, when they found St Kilda's defensive zones impenetrable.

After running two other rivals close in recent weeks, Hahn said this clash gave the Doggies a gauge of their progress and the chance to gain some invaluable confidence before the finals.

"You want to be able to beat a top-four team going into the finals," he said.

"Our pressure has to equal theirs, we have to have 22 contributors, we have to be consistent and if all that falls into place then we're definitely a chance of winning."

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