A relaxed Rodney Eade has given his players a history lesson on the eve of the Western Bulldogs' biggest clash in a decade.
Eade's side is given little chance of bringing down the all-conquering Cats on Friday night at the MCG.
Geelong is expected to waltz into a second straight decider with a straightforward win over the Dogs.
However, the master motivator has pointed to some of the great preliminary final upsets to remind his players their grand final dream is well and truly alive.
"We have spoken a little bit about that, but not a lot," Eade told reporters on Thursday at Whitten Oval.
"History can help sell a story or paint a picture."
"We're certainly not a group and I am not a coach who worries about the underdog tag."
"We're not hoping to do a Steve Bradbury or anything like that."
"It's more about what we've control of and how we go about it and the boys are looking forward to it."
The Dogs were overran and slumped to a 61-point loss when the sides last met in Round 16 this year, a showdown in which the vanquished 'learnt a few lessons'.
It also sparked a stuttering finish to the season for the boys from the west, one which Eade has put behind him.
"It's a marvellous thing the mind, isn't it, the tricks it can play," Eade mused.
"The confidence can go really quickly but it also can get back really quickly."
"I am a great believer that skill level in a game is a direct correlation to your effort and your intensity."
"If your mind is on the job there's a fair chance you can execute your skills."
"You don't lose your talent from week to week. I think there's a real correlation."
The coach said the 22 that succeeded against the Swans had garnered confidence from a gutsy win, but it hadn't impacted him as much.
"I didn't worry about if there was any pressure on me (before last week's win), from an outside point that might have been the case," Eade said.
"It's not about me, it's about the players. It's about easing the pressure off the players."
"If the pressure is on me well that's fine, there's no drama about that."
Eade confirmed Adam Cooney, battling a virus and knee soreness, would play. There is unlikely to be any changes to the side that defeated Sydney in last Friday night's semi-final.