A LACK of conditioning was the reason Matt Suckling couldn't force his way back into the Western Bulldogs side for Saturday's Grand Final against the Sydney Swans, according to coach Luke Beveridge.

The 28-year-old has battled an Achilles injury for much of the second half of the season and the defensive playmaker has missed three of the past six matches – including the preliminary final win over Greater Western Sydney.

Beveridge conceding it was too big of a risk to take the two-time premiership Hawk into the biggest game of the season with none of his teammates deserving to be dropped.

Mega-preview: Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs

The Bulldogs will go into the season decider with an unchanged side for one of the few times this season.

"It's just really tough to omit anyone, but Matty has had a sore Achilles for a fair period of time now and we've had to manage his workloads and training quite differently to the rest of the group," Beveridge said on Friday.

"We've still got him there (as an emergency) if we need him.

"It's disappointing for Matty, but it was just too hard to omit one of his teammates."

Ruckman Jordan Roughead (eye) and defender Dale Morris (Achilles) have both been under injury clouds, but Beveridge declared both would play.

With twin towers Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett looming large, Beveridge said team balance wasn't the major reason key defender Fletcher Roberts held his spot in the back six.

Roberts performed well against a potent Giants' tall attack last week, holding his own against Jeremy Cameron, Jon Patton and Rory Lobb.

"We really liked the way our backline operated last week and it does change the dynamic when (Suckling) came in and (Roberts) went out (against Hawthorn)," Beveridge said.

"They've got some significant tall threats the Swans and they're outstanding players.

"Part of (the selection) is related (to Franklin and Tippett).

"Lance kicked five (goals in round 15), so we'll need to be on our toes around their big forwards."

With ruckman Jordan Roughead declaring on Friday he's had clearance from doctors to play with his eye injury, Beveridge said defender Dale Morris would also take his place after being under a injury cloud during the week.

The 34-year-old veteran sent a scare through the Dogs minutes before the preliminary final against GWS.

"In the warm-up last week he had something going on with his Achilles, which was a bit alarming at the time to be honest," Beveridge said.

"We thought we were going to have to pull him out of the game with the clock counting down to 30 seconds.

"It just turned out to be a minor thing, no big tendon injury, so he's been fine.

"He trained on Wednesday, he's come up OK (and) he'll definitely play."