Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the club are unlikely to make any changes ahead of Saturday's blockbuster clash with Carlton, despite the glaring mismatch facing the Bulldog back six following selection.
Key back Alex Keath has been left out of the side, leaving Buku Khamis and Rory Lobb as the only two defensive talls to halt Carlton's three-pronged attack in Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay and Tom De Koning.
De Koning has been listed at full-forward, with ruckman Marc Pittonet returning to Michael Voss' team after briefly falling out of favour.
Pittonet's 25 disposals, 33 hit-outs and six marks in the VFL last weekend were enough to secure his spot back in the side, boosting the Blues' size for their clash tomorrow.
Despite Carltons' listed lineup, the Bulldogs are holding firm with their selection calls, Beveridge referring to the club's recent history of avoiding late changes ahead of their matches in his press conference Friday morning.
He says their ability to halt Carlton's key forwards will rely on the work done up the ground; the front 12 in the mid-forward region.
While both have shown positive signs either recently or during the season generally, Lobb and Khamis form a very inexperienced and untested defensive duo, the former having just been introduced to the role and the latter lining up for just his 11th career game.
Should the Bulldogs lose and Carlton's frontmen have a field day, the onus will clearly fall on Beveridge and raise the heat on his job yet again.
The coach expects a response from his midfield troops, after collapsing in the face of Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis in their drubbing to Port Adelaide last Saturday, completely outplaying Bulldog trio Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar and Tom Liberatore.
No changes were made to the midfield mix, Beveridge instead hoping for improvements from the like of Ed Richards, who has been lauded this season for his performance in his new home through the midfield.
Liberatore's inclusion from his concussion absence has potentially hindered the form of Richards, being forced into another role change; starting on the wing for his third match in a row.
