ONE word has been on the lips of Panmure coach Mandy Condon this week "consistency".
The ability to produce four-quarter performances week in week out has been the Bulldogs' flaw throughout an otherwise impressive season.
Condon has talked all season about her side playing well in "patches" and to date they've done enough for long enough to make today's preliminary final. But another patchy performance is unlikely to cut it on the high-pressure stage against Dennington at Reid Oval .
"It's more just the consistency," Condon said when asked what would be crucial to overcoming the Dogs.
"That's what it's been all year. We're lucky in this game, we get every second centre pass.
"When we have it we have to make the most of it don't let it go.
"Essentially we should be even with them all the time.
"We have to make the most of the opportunities we have, protect the ball and not be too intimidated by them." Panmure defeated Dennington by nine goals in the sides' qualifying final clash at Mortlake's D. C. Farran Oval a fortnight ago.
But the Dogs will have tall defender Sue Fleming, who missed the clash, in the side, while the Bulldogs have lost key shooter Brooke Rudezky due to work.
Her omission will heighten the pressure on attacking sidekick Bridget Roache.
Condon said the Bulldogs had options to fill the second shooting role, but would not make a decision on her line-up until today.
"We've probably got two or three others that are real possibilities," she said.
"The hard thing is A reserve play in the preliminary final, too and we may have to take one of their shooters, which is the hard thing about sport."