Even before the Western Bulldogs confirm their top-eight finish, Jonathan Brown rates them the most dangerous team in the AFL premiership race.

The Bulldogs’ thumping wins over Essendon and GWS has put them in eighth spot and given many pundits reminders of the barnstorming run to their drought-breaking 2016 premiership.

While they have not made the finals since, the Bulldogs have solved their scoring problems.

They had not kicked more than 100 points in a game this season until the last month, when they have done so three times.

Brown said that sudden scoring surge makes them particularly dangerous ahead of the finals.

“I think they’re the most dangerous team in the eight, because they can score so quickly,” the Fox Footy commentator said.

“If you’re even not five per cent, might be two per cent off with your pressure game, they can really hurt you, the Bulldogs.

“You look at their handball game – it’s elite. The old Bulldogs handball club is back … they absolutely pulled the Giants apart in the second half.”

But for all the Bulldogs’ impressive late-season form, they must beat Adelaide in Ballarat on Sunday to confirm their finals birth.

The Bulldogs are a game ahead of Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and the Crows ahead of round 23, with similar percentage.

They have only won one of their last four games against Adelaide, who will play at Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium for the first time.

While the Bulldogs are surging, Adelaide have lost four of their last five games.