Panmure defender Thomas Wright didn't know he was due to play his 250^th match until Thursday afternoon.

"I wasn't keeping track of my games at all actually," he said.

"Then the boys texted me this afternoon.

"It was a bit of a surprise, I didn't think I had that many up."

Wright has red, white and blue running through his veins.

"I played all my juniors here and I've been here since Auskick actually," he said.

Playing coach Chris Bant was full of praise for his good mate.

The long-time friends were in each other's wedding parties.

"He's been a stalwart of this club and fantastic in pretty much every game he has played," Bant said.

"He doesn't play any bad ones.

"You know what you're going to get.

"He gives his all every week and it's very tough for his opponent, whoever he is playing on, to get a kick.

"He's the type of bloke you want to be playing with all the time."

Wright, who was best on ground against Allansford last week, is looking forward to taking on Russells Creek on Saturday at Mack Oval.

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It's a must win for the fifth-ranked Bulldogs.

Panmure and sixth-placed Allansford sit on 40 points each with two rounds to go.

But it will be the Bulldogs' final game because they have a bye in round 18.

Allansford plays Old Collegians and Dennington.

Percentage could decide fifth-spot if the Bulldogs beat Creek and the Cats win both their matches.

If Panmure wins and Allansford loses on Saturday the Bulldogs will have a week off before an elimination final.

The Bulldogs have turned their year around after losing their first three matches.

"We have improved a hell of a lot since the first round," Wright said.

"Everyone is gelling together pretty well.

"It's quite enjoyable and we're starting to play some really good footy now."

The Bulldogs, who were in sixth-position, jumped into fifth spot after beating Allansford last week.

They have been treating their last few matches like elimination finals.

"The boys seem to be taking it in their stride," Bant said.

"They know the pressure is on but that's the way we probably play our best footy.

"If we win this week, and hopefully results go our way, then we get a week off before finals."

Bant said his group was in with a chance if it made finals.

"I think if we can keep our high-pressure game up we can match it with anyone," he said.

"But we also realise that when that pressure subsides we're not a good enough team to make up for lapses.

"So that's the positive thing about the past six weeks, we've played four quarters in pretty much every game."

The Bulldogs are also excited to play Creek because they want to play on a ground in Warrnambool.

They have played their past two matches at home.

"We do have to adjust to the drier decks and the bigger decks in town," Wright said.

"I think we are capable of doing that.

"It's a different style of footy to what we have been playing these past few weeks."

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