Western Bulldogs' coach Rodney Eade has taken a refreshing approach to Saturday night's NAB Cup decider in embracing the hype that's come with the club's first grand final appearance in 40 years, rather than shying away from it.

While it has become fashionable for clubs to play down the pre-season competition at every opportunity - with the Dogs' opponents on Saturday night in St Kilda having long taken that path - Eade said on Wednesday he can understand why the club's fans are so excited at seeing their team in their first grand final since winning the old night series in 1970.

"Everything is geared to round one but know we are in a grand final and we are looking forward to it," Eade said.

"There is great excitement and anticipation from our end and it's not often you get to play in a grand final."

"We know it's not the main season but it's always good practice and good training to play in any final."

"It will be a sell-out on Saturday night so from our point of view we will be flat out."

However Eade did warn not to read too much into the NAB Cup form line, saying that just because St Kilda and the Dogs had reached the decider it did not necessarily mean the two clubs were destined for premiership glory in the regular season.

The Saints one and only premiership was way back in 1966 while the Dogs' only flag was in 1954, but in recent times the pair have come perilously close to ending those droughts the Saints finishing runners-up both in 1997 and last year while the Dogs have lost six preliminary finals in the past 25 years without reaching a grand final.

But Eade said there were no increased expectations on his team for the season ahead despite having reached the NAB Cup grand final.

"Not from our point of view but you can't control the external views of people," he said.

"But you've got to put the NAB Cup in perspective."

"Apart from the fact that we (coaches) tend to play it down a bit - the fact is we have only played three sides (to reach the grand final under the knockout format)."

"We haven't played all 15 sides so it (your form) depends on the preparation of those sides when you play them."

"We could have easily lost maybe two of those games and St Kilda could have too considering they won two by a point, so it depends on who you have played."

"But once you get to this stage when it's your last hit-out before the home and away season, teams will be fair dinkum about it."