The Western Bulldogs hope to go to the well of resilience one more time as they attempt what most AFL pundits believe is mission impossible.

The Bulldogs limp into preliminary final week with the worst form of the competition's final four, having conjured a five-point win against Sydney in their semi-final essentially on courage.

Now St Kilda - rested after a week's break and building ominously - await the Bulldogs, who have won just two of their past five matches and neither in convincing fashion.

Ruckman Ben Hudson believes the nature of the win over the Swans - the Dogs coming from five goals down and a horrible second quarter - was confidence-building despite the task awaiting them against last year's losing grand finalists.

"We've struggled the last month of footy - it doesn't take Einstein to work that out. But we've gutsed it out - you're five goals down and to grind a win like that it's great for the confidence," Hudson told AAP.

"Obviously it's a massive change next week, but we go in knowing we can win ugly and win a battle.

"Probably against St Kilda - they're similar games to what we've played against Sydney. Hopefully we can creep over the line. You've only got to win by a point to get to the last day."

Hudson's thoughts were echoed by Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade, who praised the bravery and resilience of his team to make the last four despite struggling for form.

"In the finals we haven't won a lot of them (close games), so that was a real plus to win against a team that usually wins those," Eade said.

"The more you experience that in finals, the better you'll be for it.

"We'd like to think we'd be all right in that situation.

"There is a great deal of resilience in the group and I think we've proven that the last three or four years. That win showed a fair bit of character I thought."

Eade is also holding out some hope defender Dale Morris may have recovered from a back problem in time to play some role against the Saints at the MCG on Saturday night.

Morris' season had been written off but he has made a better than expected recovery.

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