A squad of nearly 40 players arrived in London early this morning, ahead of Saturday's Elastoplast AFL Challenge against Port Adelaide at Kia Oval. 

Players arrived in downtown London in top shape after the long haul flight from Melbourne, after a stopover in Abu Dhabi. 

Bulldogs skipper Matthew Boyd told westernbulldogs.com.au that the squad was not only looking forward to the weekend clash, but also the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with some of the globes top sporting franchises. 

"This trip represents a great opportunity for the team to connect with  some of the leading sporting clubs in the UK," Boyd said.

"You don't get the chance very often to swap notes with the likes of Fulham FC and the London Harlequins. It's going to be a fantastic experience - especially for the young blokes. 

The group will hit the track for a training session tomorrow morning - to help shake off the jet lag. 

"The boys are in pretty good shape after the flight and are looking forward to hitting the track again after a couple months break.