The Saints easily beat the Dogs in two meetings this season, by 28 points in round six and by 45 points in round 17.
But fresh from a convincing semi-final win over the Brisbane Lions, the Dogs are confident of turning the tables.
For the second straight season, the Bulldogs will take to the MCG under lights on a Friday night chasing their first grand final berth since 1961.
A year ago they lost to Geelong but Cross says the team is more mature, hungrier and knows it packs the punch to knock out the Saints.
"We’re not here to make up the numbers," Cross said after training on Tuesday. "What’s been done in the past is the past. The finals series is a whole new ball game.
"We give ourselves every shot this week; that’s why we’re here training and that’s why we train all through pre-season, doing the hard work.
"We’re excited about the challenge ... we’ll have to play very well, no doubt, but it’s exciting to be one of the last four teams in September."
Cross said the Dogs had win the contested ball if his side was to upset St Kilda. And the 26-year-old said his team had the personnel to advance a week beyond their 2008 efforts.
"I really think last year we were happy to get to this point and see whatever happened," he said.
"We sort of threw caution to the wind against Geelong last year but we really believe we’re a chance to win this week.
"Nothing’s really changed in our attitudes from the win last week … we pride ourselves on being calm and not changing the way we feel after a win or a loss and that’s a good attitude to have we feel and that’s a new culture we’re trying to bring to the club."
The Bulldogs have won just one premiership – in 1954 – but Cross says the weight of expectation is no heavier than for the Saints, whose only flag came in 1966.
"St Kilda’s in the same position, and I’m sure they’re feeling the same," he said.
"They want to create their own history, and that’s what we’re trying to do as players here."
