WESTERN Bulldogs forward Mitch Hahn believes his side must resist the temptation to consider a potential qualifying final with Hawthorn and focus firmly on the next four weeks.
With the Dogs likely to play the Hawks in the opening week of the finals, unless the top three makes an unlikely shift, coach Rodney Eade has admitted they have commenced preparations for the showdown.
But Hahn, 27, said it's imperative the players keep their eyes on their immediate fortunes.
"[Winning momentum] is the key," he said on Wednesday. "You don't want to go into finals losing the last four games.
"Our focus is on North Melbourne this week, and they've got a good record against us and it will be a tough game.
"We've got to go out there and put the right processes in place like we have in the first 18 weeks. We can't start thinking about four weeks' time, because anything could happen in four weeks.
"It's all about this week."
The Bulldogs have lost their past four matches against North Melbourne, and now meet the Roos who are on a four-game winning streak.
"We're getting them at a good time and they have had the wood over us the last couple of times we've played," Hahn said.
"It's important that we come out and win the contested football and it will be a good contest.
"We always seem to have good contests with them, and you know what you're going to get against North Melbourne – it's similar to what you get against Sydney.
"They're hard, contested and they never give up.
"So we're going to have to be on our game."
Tearing his ACL in round 12, 2006, and returning in round seven last year, Hahn has been used mainly in attack this season and is second on the club's goalkicking tally behind Jason Akermanis.
Hahn isn't concerned about where the side needs him to play, however, he believes his renowned toughness brings an extra element to the Dogs' forward structure.
"I'm just happy to be out there at the moment," he said.
"I've had a couple of years where I've been injured, and it's good to be back out there.
"Most of this year, I've played forward and we've had a great forward line. We've got a great bunch of blokes down there, a lot of talent and a lot of skill, and I suppose I bring that harder edge into the group."
