Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says a sudden-death clash with battle-hardened Geelong will hold no fears for a Demons side lacking in AFL finals experience.
The Demons will host the Cats in a home elimination final after steamrolling GWS by 45 points at the MCG to secure fifth spot on the ladder.
Sunday afternoon's 15.12 (102) to 8.9 (57) triumph came despite the Demons being reduced to two men on the bench at halftime following injuries to Dean Kent (shoulder) and Dom Tyson (broken arm).
The Dees head into the clash with Geelong at the MCG with the vast majority of their players having never experienced the September cauldron.
Co-captain Nathan Jones is the only player remaining from the Demons' last finals tilt in 2006 while Jordan Lewis, Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham played finals at their previous clubs.
They will come up against a Geelong side set for an 11th AFL finals campaign in the space of 12 years and led by premiership stalwarts Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett and Tom Hawkins.
Goodwin insists the gulf in experience is irrelevant, declaring the Dees' contested brand of football has them well-placed for a finals assault.
"It means nothing," Goodwin said.
"It's a new tournament, a fresh start. It's basically playing our brand in the biggest game we can possibly play against Geelong.
"I think we might have lost contested ball once for the year, we know that's where finals are won so we go in confident in our style and our brand."
Twice this season the Dees suffered agonising defeats to Geelong, losing at the MCG by three points in round one and at GMHBA Stadium by two points in round 18 on the back of Zach Tuohy's goal after the siren.
"We've had two cracking games," Goodwin said.
"It sets us up for a great final.
"We're in form, we want to stay in form and we believe we can beat anyone really."
Goodwin said co-captain Jack Viney was firmly on track to face the Cats, having been sidelined for seven weeks with a foot injury.
Tyson will undergo surgery on Sunday evening and could also return during the finals.
