THE COMBINATION of an outstanding pre-season and a mature playing group has the Western Bulldogs primed for a premiership run according to veteran Jason Akermanis.

But there certainly weren't any bold predictions coming out of Whitten Oval on Thursday - just a quiet acknowledgment that the Dogs have put themselves in an excellent position to challenge for the flag.

"This is the window, we spoke about it last year as well. There's not too many years when we can get that group [of players] in their late twenties," Akermanis said.

"The window is [open], it's here, it's here now, but it is for a few [other] teams too.

"St Kilda will be saying the same and Geelong still think they're in it, so there's a number of teams that know that time is running out, but from our point of view we would have liked to have won it last year, but we've got to look at this year."

Akermanis said that the effort the players had put in this pre-season would hold them in good stead for a premiership tilt.

"If there's any club that's done what we've done I'd be surprised," Akermanis said. "In the second half of games this group will come into its own.

"We're very big, very strong and we've played together for a lot of years."

Akermanis is in peak condition after an excellent pre-season that he doubted would even happen at stages during 2009 when he considered retirement.

At 33 he well and truly qualifies for elder statesman status, but drawing an end to his decorated career is now the farthest thing from his mind.

"I thought last year was my last so I'm not even going to say anything," he replied when asked if the 2010 season would be his AFL swansong.

"I thought Nostradamus was giving me a tap on the shoulder last year, but this year has been good. I've had a great pre-season. Last year I wasn't expecting the pre-season we had so I was a little bit frustrated in myself, but then I just got it together.

"We get a lot of the guys who are [in their early thirties] out so early and that's a real shame for the competition because these guys can still produce."

The Bulldogs can kick start their premiership tilt with a NAB Cup grand final appearance if they can overcome Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The Dogs will take a strong line-up into the clash despite Ben Hudson and Daniel Giansiracusa being rested.

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade is keen to use the NAB Cup semi-final to build a strong foundation for the season proper.

"Our focus is still round one and we're not going to compromise on anything for that, but certainly I think all teams like to win as many times as they can," Eade said of his NAB Cup ambitions.

"It creates good habits and I think if we can win tomorrow night and get into the grand final it would be terrific. It would be good experience for our guys, but round one is the most important focus at this stage."