DARWIN meteorologists might be forecasting monsoonal rain and possible cyclonic activity for Friday night, but Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson is still promising an intense and hard-fought encounter between two determined sides.
Johnson is unconcerned about the approaching inclement weather, and believes the Dogs and the Kangaroos will account for their NAB Cup opener with passion and tenacity.
"They're a very good team and they're a team that gets up and running very early in the season, so they'll be super determined to play well, as we are," he told afl.com.au.
"It's going to be a pretty good game. Both sides will want to win this, so the intensity will be pretty high and I think it's going to be a pretty good hit-out from the outset.
"It will be competitive – you don't go into any game that's not, these days. Regardless of what side we roll out and what they roll out, it doesn't matter.
"Across the whole competition, the games are pretty competitive because you've got guys who want to play well to get their form and confidence up.
"You've got new guys trying to get themselves established, so the competitive nature is there for everyone."
Johnson is also hoping the Bulldogs will use the likely soggy conditions to their advantage once the winter months roll around.
"If you have to play interstate, or even at the MCG or Skilled Stadium this year and it's wet, then you can draw back on the fact, especially if it happens early in the season, that you've actually played in those conditions," he said.
"Hopefully, we handle them well and we can certainly use them later in the year.
"We don't play in the wet that often anymore, so it's good to get back and get muddy like in the junior days."
The Bulldogs ran through an hour-long session at TIO Stadium on Tuesday night, with Johnson posting a positive ground report for the dewy surface afterwards.
"The ground was a little bit wet, a little bit wetter than what is has been in the past, but they say it drains very well and we've never had any problems with the surface before," he said.
"The surface is magnificent, and I'd say it will be in pretty good shape by Friday night.
"And you never know, the sun might come out tomorrow for a bit – I doubt it – but who knows?"
The Dogs' captain, who spent Wednesday visiting the Territory Wildlife Park and HMAS Pirie as part of the club's Community Camp, said his players will not be distracted by the unconventional lead-up to the game.
"You're here to play a game of footy; the community stuff is a little bit extra we have to do," he said.
"At the end of the day, we're here to win a game of footy, and the guys understand that."
