After a promising 2006 season, the Western Bulldogs are looking to build on their first finals appearance in eight years and are putting the work in on the fitness track to make it possible, according to midfielder Daniel Cross.The club's new Head of Physical Performance, Cameron Falloon, has come over from Geelong with assistant Luke Meehan to revamp the Dogs' fitness regime.Ahead of Saturday's opening NAB Cup encounter with the Sydney Swans in Canberra, Cross said supporters will see a fitter and stronger line-up in 2007."It's been a lot of interval running, very much game-specific," Cross told a special media conference at the AIS."More over longer distance, but more repeated efforts."Despite being one of the fittest sides in the competition last year, Cross said the fleet-footed Bulldogs have had better preparation than last year, and have added the required muscle."We've got more of a base behind us this year than last year," Cross said."Definitely our weights have stepped up two-fold from what we're used to."You might see a few of our guys look a lot stronger on Saturday, and we need to be, as we got thrown around a bit in a few areas," Cross warned.Cross played down the expectations heaped on the Bulldogs after an impressive 2006 and the acquisition of Brownlow Medallist and former Brisbane star Jason Akermanis, but said the club wanted to be a part of the September action again."You can't put much too much expectation on yourself. I think to make the finals would be another step in the right direction again, but hopefully go further than we did last year," Cross said."He's (Akermanis) really excited, for himself, to come into this group, because he believes we've got what it takes to go a long way during the end of the season."For him to say that gives us a lot of confidence going into this year."