STAR playmakers Matthew Boyd and Tom Liberatore are no certainties to return to the Western Bulldogs side that will face Sydney at the SCG on Thursday night, says Luke Beveridge.
Boyd has missed the past two games with a shoulder complaint, while Liberatore has spent a fortnight in the VFL after an indifferent start to the season.
Boyd, who was named in the Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team last year, appears to vying with Shane Biggs and Bailey Williams for a spot on the half-back line.
Liberatore has been solid in his two outings for Footscray despite being heavily tagged.
Beveridge said if the pair were selected it would result in some unlucky omissions from the team that defeated St Kilda by 40 points in round 10.
"We expect (Boyd) to play, but he's got to get through training today," Beveridge said on Monday.
"(Shane) Biggs came in and played really well, we're happy with how Bailey Williams is going, so we'll consider that after training today (Monday).
"The hard thing for Libba at VFL level is that he gets that attention and getting tagged.
"We'll consider … that. We don't want to torture him, and we saw some really good signs last game.
"The challenging thing for the boys is the senior team played pretty well, and we're not going to force a change and force someone out who has got really good form."
Skipper Bob Murphy is expected to miss no more than four weeks as he recovers from knee surgery and a hamstring injury.
Key forward Travis Cloke will also be considered after the former Magpie kicked three goals in the round two clash between the two sides.
Beveridge spent time embedded with the Queensland Rugby League State Of Origin team during the Bulldogs' bye in round 11, and said the "fly on the wall" experience was a great learning exercise despite the Maroons going down to New South Wales.
The chance for the premiership coach to be involved with one of Australian sport's greatest rivalries came through a club sponsor.
Asked if the week off came at an inopportune time for the Dogs after their most consistent performance of the season against the Saints, Beveridge said he was unsure, but stressed that his side couldn't afford to waste the progress they had made.
"I don't necessarily think we needed a break," he said.
"We're probably a little bit fresher in the mind because we haven't had that extra month of training (due to starting pre-season later).
"Our real challenge now is to pick up that momentum we started to gain in the last game, and start like that in Sydney."
