THE WESTERN Bulldogs may have lost six of their last eight games, but Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos will not be underestimating a team that was near the top of the ladder throughout the home and away season.

The Swans meet the Bulldogs in a semi final at the MCG on Friday night and Roos is adamant that the Dogs will bounce back from their heavy loss to Hawthorn in the second qualifying final.

"They've got some pretty good experienced players and some young guys," Roos said on Monday.

"They did look a little bit nervous [against Hawthorn] but I think they've got a lot better footy ahead of them -- that experience will do their young guys the world of good and they'll play a lot better than what they did last weekend ... Obviously they were the second or third best team so that doesn't change over two of three weeks."

Roos said his team would be set for a vastly improved showing from the Bulldogs in what is a sudden-death encounter at the MCG.

"There's still a lot of talented players so we expect them to play very well, and we need to expect them to play like that in order to get ready for them."

"Two weeks ago people said we were dead and buried so it can turn around pretty quickly. They've beaten us twice so we'd rather take those games rather than their most recent form.

"And their best is very, very good."

Roos is reflecting on two losses to the Bulldogs this season as he prepares his side for the weekend semi final with Rodney Eade's side.

The Swans were blown away in the second quarter of their round seven clash at the SCG when the Dogs slammed on seven goals to one on their way to a three-goal win.

Similarly in round 18, the Bulldogs' eight-goal second quarter helped them to a 16-point win over the Swans in Canberra.

 It is something Roos is keen to avoid this Friday night.

"We just need to concentrate on playing well for four quarters," Roos said.

"We've probably played some of our best football against the Bulldogs and equally they've probably played their best in two of those quarters."