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Brisbane can go a step closer to a top-four finish while the Western Bulldogs are eyeing finals too when the AFL sides meet at the Gabba.

Chris Fagan thinks the Western Bulldogs are nearing their 2016 AFL premiership form as Brisbane prepare to host them on Sunday.

One of three-consecutive Gabba clashes for the third-placed side, the Lions' coach admits he's "happy but wary" after six-straight wins that have consolidated a finals berth.

The Bulldogs, however, have won five of their past seven and can sniff another September run after moving to ninth on the ladder.

"The four games that I've been coach of the Lions, whenever we've played them, we haven't been able to beat them," Fagan reflected.

"Not that long ago, they won an AFL premiership. They seem to be approaching that sort of form at the moment.

"We had a really close game against them up in Ballarat earlier in the year where we felt like we wasted some opportunities in the first half.

"We get another opportunity this weekend."

Former Hawthorn football boss Fagan is calling on all of his experience to keep a lid on a young side who can secure a top-four finish with wins over the next three weeks against the Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Geelong.

"We had a chat to our players at the beginning of the week about the idea of 'we've got where we are because we've focused on improvement'," he said.

"So our next four weeks is about focusing on improvement.

"It does appear as if we've won enough games to make finals, but they're not until four weeks' time.

Fagan said the battle between key defender Harris Andrews, returning from suspension, and Bulldogs' forward Aaron Naughton would be one for the purists.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said his side had been energised by the prospect of a finals campaign and an improved Brisbane would be a challenge.

"They're going really well, Brisbane, in so many areas ... they've discovered their own formula and it's really working for them," he said.

Brisbane have won seven of eight at home this year, however they have come from behind in five of those.

"Teams come up here and throw everything at us," Fagan said.

"It's not an opportunity for us to take a rest."