WESTERN Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson believes strong pre-seasons throughout his career have ensured his durability as a player, and are the main reason why he'll become his club's games record holder this weekend. 

Johnson, 33, will break Chris Grant's tally of 341 games this Saturday when the Dogs take on Fremantle at Docklands.

The forward said the reason behind his longevity – with his career spanning nearly 17 years – was largely unknown, but said many successful summers had certainly helped.

"I've certainly got through every pre-season pretty well, and I think if you get a full pre-season under your belt every year, then you put yourself in a pretty good position to stay pretty fit," Johnson said on Wednesday at Whitten Oval.

"Throughout the season you can work through a few niggles because you have a good base behind you."

Johnson said he hadn't considered his playing career beyond 2009 and would make a decision based on his own form, drive, and the thoughts of coach Rodney Eade at the end of the season.

Mindful of his limited time left in the game, Johnson says he hopes premiership success – which currently eludes his impressive resume – isn't too far away for the Dogs.

"We're certainly improving as a side, and we're a side that has got some fantastic talent and a really good work ethic on top of that," he said.

"We're certainly on the right track to achieving a premiership within this club.

"The drive is there from the group, and we're certainly extremely passionate and we want to achieve the ultimate success."

Johnson is one of six Bulldogs to play 300 games and as of Saturday will head a list including Grant (341 games), Doug Hawkins (329), Ted Whitten (321), Scott West (324), and Rohan Smith (300).

"When I first got to club, Hawkins was still playing and Stephen Wallis [as well]. They were the two that I saw as unbelievable players. Stephen MacPherson was probably the third," he said.

"As the years have gone on, being able to play a lot of games with Granty, Westy, Smithy and Darce [Luke Darcy] as well, they set a massive example for me in regard to your work ethic and work rate.

"They taught me everything, and they're the guys that have got me in that mindset of being able to compete each week."

He also said the evolution of the club from one with the most humble facilities in Victoria to one with the Elite Learning Centre had helped the Dogs draw level with the powerhouse clubs in the competition. 

"The last three or four years have been huge," he said. "It's important the young guys coming into the club realise where we used to train and what we used to have.

"We had to work damn hard in the facilities we had, and we loved every minute of being here, but it's what we've got today that has allowed us to take our performance to another level."