While plenty of coaches would try and pull new tactics from behind their ears or try and change things up to cause what - in this case - would contend for upset of the decade, Paasi thinks his men have changed their outfit's mindset enough since their last clash to not need to throw curveballs at the competition leaders.

The Bulldogs absolutely smashed the Lions both times the sides have clashed this season, losing 62-28 in round two and then 60-nil in round seven, the latter of which was at Pride Park, the same venue as this weekend's match-up.

The competition-leaders have dropped just the one game so far this season, a 26-24 loss to Orange Emus at Endeavour Oval three weeks ago, but have otherwise looked unstoppable in 2019, while the struggling Lions are yet to claim victory this season.

However, Paasi said the side had been born-again following the long weekend a month ago and he was hoping to "play to our strengths" against the Bulldogs.

"There's been a really good energy around the boys since the long weekend, we've sort of changed out mindset," he said.

"For so long we were hanging out for that win, desperate for it and we've kind of said let's just play as good as we can and it'll come, and if it doesn't it doesn't.

"It's been really positive in that we've eliminated a few errors from our games."

He knows it'll be the toughest challenge his side has faced so far this season and acknowledges they're the "best side in the competition", but is determined to see his charges preform to the best of their abilities.

"They've got very good set plays and we want to try and shut them down and defend well, and when we get possession and get it down our end we want to come away with points every time we're down there," Paasi said.

The Lions have still recorded the three losses since then, going down 19-8 to Forbes, 32-14 to Dubbo on the road and a hard-fought 27-31 loss to Cowra last weekend.

Part of the side's ability to get closer to opponents has been due to "consistency", which the side has been able to develop since the long weekend with only two changes since that first game back against Forbes.

"Haven't been able to pick an unchanged side for the season, there's always been someone away or injured. Nick Fisher will miss this week, he popped his shoulder out and in last week so he'll miss a couple," Paasi said.

"We've really building with consistency in the past three weeks because we've been competing for the full 80 minutes, and we've only had to change two players in that time so it's been a pretty consistent."

However, the side will be without Sam Dwyer for the rest of the year, who's decided against returning to the club for the remainder of 2019 as he and his partner prepare to become parents.

"He was going to play but being self-employed and with twins on the way in October he made the call not to risk injury, so he's indicated he's keen to play next year," Paasi said.

The Lions-Bulldogs clash begins at 3.15pm at Pride Park.