Western Bulldogs premiership midfielder Tom Liberatore will return to the AFL on Sunday to help combat Melbourne's new found clearance and contested ball strength.
Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said Liberatore and defender Dale Morris will play in the important game at Etihad Stadium after "sound" performances in the VFL.
"He (Liberatore) had an influencial game," Beveridge said. "His second half was quite outstanding.
"He played the whole last quarter on the ball and got quite a few breakaway type clearances, defended extremely well and explored a bit of outside stuff.
"Some of the things we asked him to attend to he has applied himself and we know he has been a really important player for us."
With the Demons' clearance expertise of concern, Beveridge is well aware of the impact 25-year-old Liberatore can make in the midfield.
"We come up against something that we have to combat," Beveridge said.
"We looked at our midfield and the players that go through there and we're evolving.
"I've been asked 'when will you settle that down?'
"I don't think we will ever settle it down because they're a young group that can play in areas where we can get an advantage."
Beveridge dismissed Sydney's physical targeting of Norm Smith medallist Jason Johanissen at the SCG last round, but he hinted the Bulldogs will be ready for it this time.
"There weren't any hard lessons from it. It was probably a bit of a wake-up call around that sort of stuff," he said.
"It's a credit to JJ that teams think they need to do that sort of stuff and we're expecting that (from Melbourne) tomorrow."
Beveridge said a combination of "injury and form" were the contributing factors to three losses in the Bulldogs' past four games.
"We feel we're in really good order for what we see up ahead," he said.
"I don't think our injury toll is as extreme as last year, but it has been to certain players who are important in our make-up."
After an unexpected run through the finals in 2016, Beveridge appreciates just how tough it is to live up to the high expectations now placed on his side.
"We have to live in the real world where a club that wins the flag after 62 years with a pretty young group, they are going to have their challenges," he said.
"It definitely has nothing to do with application. Any rumour about partying is just not true.
"We feel we're playing against an even competition that is bringing their best every week against us.
"But it was the nature of our loss (to Sydney) last week that probably send the alarm bells off internally and externally."
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