The Western Bulldogs are undersized, unfancied and still under renovation as they take on Sydney on Saturday to begin their AFL season.
That's not an editorial but the opinion of coach Luke Beveridge, who still sees enough in his young Dogs to back a surprise win at Marvel Stadium.
"I should have a big smile on my face. I'm really looking forward to seeing what it all looks like," Beveridge said on Friday.
"We're playing for keeps this week. We go in with a head of steam."
Beveridge's confidence belies the club's pre-season losses to predicted strugglers Gold Coast and St Kilda, as well as their young and inexperienced list.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Tim English and Aaron Naughton are good barometers of the Bulldogs' position.
English, 21 and with nine games to his belt, has earned the nod over Jackson Trengove to ruck, and Beveridge has asked him simply to "halve the position".
Naughton, 19, enters his second season after a superb debut campaign as a key defender where he placed inside the club's top five on best and fairest night.
Against the Swans, he'll line up in the forward line alongside fellow young gun Josh Schache as the Bulldogs seek new routes to goal.
It's a strategy Beveridge has tried previously, throwing backman Easton Wood forward last year to limited success.
"Everything about (Naughton) says he could be a prolific key forward. The thing at the moment is, are we robbing Peter to pay Paul?" Beveridge said.
"We want to develop a winning forward structure. We think him and Josh Schache will work well together. Add to that (Sam) Lloydy and Tory (Dickson) and Billy Gowers.
"Marcus Bontempelli is 6 foot 4-and-a-half and a key position player in his own right. We've got some forward threats.
"It's just a matter of using the footy better than we have been."
The Bulldogs will have three new faces in action on Saturday in Hawthorn premiership defender Taylor Duryea, ex-Richmond forward Lloyd and debutant Bailey Smith. Tom Liberatore also plays his first game since an ACL injury suffered in last year's round-one loss to the Giants.
"Our 22, on paper, looks a little bit undersized compared to Sydney. But there's always some vulnerabilities in your team every time you run out," Beveridge said.
"We're really well prepared. I believe we'll really test the Swans out."
