The Western Bulldogs' AFL premiership ambitions face a crucial test on Sunday in a clash with Fremantle ruckman Ben Hudson calls "season-defining".

Following a week of drama including the sacking of Jason Akermanis, the Bulldogs are already a win behind the fourth-placed Dockers and a loss would almost shut the door on the Dogs' top-four hopes.

That would leave them premiership long shots, given no club has won the flag without the double chance since the current finals system was introduced a decade ago.

"This is a season-defining game, we need this game to get back in to the top four and that would give us a great chance at the end of the year," Hudson told AAP.

"I know Fremantle would be thinking the same thing.

"The boys know we've got six weeks to go, we have built some momentum and we need to continue it this week."

Hudson expects the high stakes to be reflected in the contest's physical intensity.

"It's going to be a cracker and hopefully we can get a huge crowd out there, and with a big crowd under the roof, the intensity, it will be just like a finals game," he said.

That could work in the Bulldogs' favour, given they have experienced six finals in the past two years, while the Dockers last tasted September action in 2006.

The Bulldogs should also be favoured by form and player availability.

The Dockers have lost four players - Paul Hasleby, Kepler Bradley, Ryan Crowley and Alex Silvagni - to injury, and scraped home against Melbourne last round, after losing to Richmond the previous weekend.

The Bulldogs regained Barry Hall and second ruckman Jordan Roughead and had big wins in four of their past five games, with the only loss in that time a three-point thriller to Hawthorn.

Midfield stars Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross, Adam Cooney and Ryan Griffen have been in strong form, while the Dockers have suffered since losing Michael Barlow to a broken leg in round 14.

But Fremantle remain formidable in the ruck, with Hudson already conceding the hit-out count to giant Aaron Sandilands, although he hoped he and Roughead can wear the Docker down.

An intriguing factor is whether the midweek removal of Akermanis will galvanise the Dogs.

Hudson, one of several players reportedly upset by aspects of Akermanis' upcoming book, believed to have helped trigger his downfall, was keen to divert the focus.

"A decision was made by the organisation, going forward we thought it was in the team's best interests, we're moving forward, so no issue there," he said.

"Hopefully we can bring some success to the Dogs, obviously we haven't had too much in the past. It's all about the team at the moment."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP