Western Bulldogs assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa says that pressure is the key to his side getting past the Greater Western Sydney Giants on Saturday night in Sydney.

The Dogs’ had eight shots on goal in the first term against West Coast in the elimination final 16 days ago, all sourced form intercept possessions, and those first 20 minutes have set the tone for their finals series so far.

Each time an Eagle, and a week later a Hawk, got their hands on the ball they found themselves surrounded by two, sometimes, three Bulldogs.

It’s this intensity that Giansiracusa says will be crucial to the Dogs winning through to the first Saturday in October.

“They’re a fantastic side, [and] they’re really balanced across the whole field,” Giansiracusa said at Sydney Airport on Friday afternoon.

“Once they get up and going they can move the footy as quickly as anyone.

“So we’re going to have to stop that, and we’re going to have to put them under immense pressure which we’ve been able to do the opposition in the last couple of weeks.

“So that’s the main focus.”

From pressure can come momentum, and for Giansiracsua, that’s what finals is all about.

“When we’ve got the momentum we’ve got to be able to score and when they’ve got it we’ve got to be able to try and limit it.

“The team that does that the best will probably win the game.”