St Kilda want to change only one thing this week from the formula that has delivered them a dominant AFL season - a grand final berth at the end of it.

As they approach their fourth preliminary final in six seasons - against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night - the premiership favourites say they could not be better prepared.

They believe their three recent falls at the same hurdle, including a thrashing from Hawthorn last year, have left no lingering psychological effects.

Likewise, they say their march to the minor premiership, impressive qualifying final win over Collingwood, and two comfortable wins over the Bulldogs this season are irrelevant.

But they are confident the hard-nosed brand of football that delivered that record can get them through the first knockout encounter they have faced this year.

"Fundamentally it's a typical AFL game," coach Ross Lyon said ahead of team training at the MCG on Wednesday.

"... We all know it's a big outcome, no-one's sitting here denying that, but it is still an AFL game of footy that needs to be won.

"We think we've got a gameplan and an effort that will give us the best opportunity.

"I can't guarantee and the group, we can't sit here and guarantee anything for you.

"But we know the effort, we've practised excellence all year, we'll go and train today and try to improve, every week we try to improve and get better, so that will be the same against this opponent."

Lyon said it was a "gambler's fallacy" to suggest their winning form this season gave them an edge against the Dogs, a view echoed by his captain Nick Riewoldt.

"Everything that has gone in the past is exactly that and counts for nothing on Friday night," the skipper said.

He also said players were not haunted by their past preliminary final defeats.

"I haven't really thought about it at all," Riewoldt said.

"All I've been trying to concentrate on is my preparation and the team's preparation and making sure we're as ready to go as we can be."

He said the Saints could not be more ready.

"We are as well prepared as we can be, we've got a fit and healthy list and we've studied our opposition really thoroughly and we're looking forward to it."

The Saints appear free of injury concerns.

While Riewoldt has experienced knee soreness in recent matches, he said it would not stop him producing his best football.

Similarly, vice-captain Lenny Hayes, who had his left elbow strapped, said he was not hampered by that injury.

But Lyon left open the possibility of team changes to counter the Bulldogs' running ability.

"There's definitely one (position) up in the air, maybe two," he said.

Veteran defender Max Hudghton, the lone survivor of the Saints' last grand final appearance in 1997, looks set to remain the hard luck story, after being left out for the club's past three games.

Lyon said the 33-year-old was "in the mix", but acknowledged there would always be tales of disappointment.

"The team comes first and unfortunately I can only pick 22 players," he said.

"It's a tough time but that's the reality of AFL footy and at the end of the day you pick yourself fundamentally with your form and fitness and all those sorts of things."

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