The Western Bulldogs believe two recent results against Geelong - one assuring and one devastating - will help in Saturday's AFL qualifying final against the Cats.

A fit and firing playing list, fresh from three impressive wins over fellow finalists, will give the Doggies confidence this could be the year they add to the club's silverware cabinet, which houses just the 1954 premiership cup.

One of those victories came over Geelong in round 21, when they withstood a Cats comeback and posted a handsome win, their first over Geelong since the opening round of 2007.

Coach Rodney Eade expected Geelong to field a stronger side this time at the MCG, but said that recent memory was crucial in reinforcing the Bulldogs' view they were on the right path.

"It was just a bit of belief," Eade said on Tuesday.

"We've had some good contests against Geelong, but they'd won the previous four, so from our point of view it was good to get over the line."

If that victory reaffirmed the Bulldogs' direction this season, then it was last year's preliminary final that provided the thrust.

That night the Doggies held sway with the best team of the season and were within range during the third quarter, until Geelong kicked clear and won through to the grand final.

Amid the hurt, Eade noticed something in the aftermath of that defeat that he thought might permeate through the off-season - the Bulldogs were hungry.

"I saw a mental shift in the culture of the club - obviously a club that hasn't had a lot of success," he said.

"In 2006 we beat Collingwood in a final and then got thrashed by West Coast and there seemed to be an air of contentment around the club, that `OK, we achieved more than we thought we would', and we were able to be satisfied.

"But I saw it at the end of last year, it was a real feeling of desolation.

"They were really gutted by the opportunity they saw that slipped through their hands.

"(It was) more they can compete and they can win the competition.

"I don't think they'd really felt that before.

"The finals series last year gave them that thought process."

Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson said it was the finals campaigns of 2006 and last year that had whetted appetites at the club.

"We had some players who'd played more than 100 games and hadn't played a final and now they've got a taste for it the last couple of years," he said.

"They want to keep that drive going."

Eade rated the Bulldogs' preparation for the finals as ideal given the wins over the Brisbane Lions, Cats and Magpies, and the recovery from Sunday night's win over the Pies.

Utility Ryan Griffen and ruck Ben Hudson are expected to return from hamstring problems, while defender Tom Williams - the club's only injured player - is recovering well after recent foot surgery.

He is a chance to return in the Bulldogs' next game.

As to why the Bulldogs had improved from this point last year, Eade pointed to having Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney and forward Robert Murphy fit, and being toughened through youngsters Jarrod Harbrow, Callan Ward and Liam Picken - all regulars in 2009.

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