COACH Dean Bailey says Melbourne is in the midst of one of its biggest challenges for the season - tackling its third six-day break in a row.

Bailey said coming up against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium this Friday night was a genuine challenge - and not just for the fact that Melbourne has lost its past 10 matches at the venue. 

He said the fact his team has had three six-day breaks is a hurdle difficult to overcome. But it’s a challenge he and the team is not shying away from.

“From our point-of-view, when you look at the draw from the start of the year - this was always going to be a challenging period for us,” he said.

“Our medical staff and our fitness guys have worked overtime the last three weeks with recovery. We hope that they’re going to be up and going again on Friday night.

“To be consistent with the performance on the back of three six dayers is a great challenge.”

Bailey said it would be a considerable achievement if the Demons could gain the four points this round.

“There is no reason why we can’t put a tick in that box Friday night,” he said.

“We’ve got a great opportunity as a football club, on a Friday night game to play well and win the fundamentals and important stats of the game.

“Our consistent efforts have got to be there as well.”