WESTERN Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson believes there is little danger his side will enter its clash with Melbourne this Sunday with a complacent attitude.

The Bulldogs smashed the Demons by 95 points in round two and are second on the ladder in comparison to Melbourne's 16th position.

But Johnson said there is no chance the Dogs will underestimate the Demons this week after they won a thrilling match against the Brisbane Lions two weeks ago.

"Not at all, did you see their last game?" Johnson said, when asked if the Dogs could be complacent.

"They played very good footy and their last month of footy has actually been pretty good.

"They will be super competitive and we'll have to be on our game to match that and get on top."

Johnson, 31, said the mid-season break provided him with an opportunity to rest physically after a season that commenced with him battling leg soreness. 

"The body is getting better and better, and I've been feeling pretty good now for about a month and the break came at the right time, for the whole group," he said.

"We had a couple of guys that got to the break and were still playing good footy but were a bit sore. They're super-fresh now so it's only going to help them for the rest of the year, and the team for the last eight games."

The Dogs' skipper, who is playing in his 15th season, is confident in his playing group's ability to keep a "lid" on things as the home-and-away calendar approaches finals, despite the club's lofty position on the ladder.

"It's exciting, the way we've started out the season, but I've been around long enough to know that as a group, we just can't get ahead of ourselves," he said.

"We just have to look at each challenge as it comes our way and that's really our motivation at the moment."

Johnson took time to pay tribute to teammate Daniel Cross, who after seven and a half seasons at the club will run out for his 100th game this Sunday.

"He works extremely hard, himself and 'Boydy' lead the charge in that area at our club and it's great to see," he said.

"When he first started, we weren't sure if 'Crossy' was ever going to make it. He had to do a lot of work on his skills, and his determination and drive is just massive.

"That's why he's become one of the elite midfielders in the competition, because of the way he prepares, and has just developed himself as a person and a player."