WESTERN Bulldogs defender Taylor Duryea has backed new St Kilda caretaker coach Brett Ratten to lift the struggling Saints in the back end of the season.
"[Ratten] is one of the smartest football people I've come across, he just knows all the little nuances of the game, how to get an advantage … his game sense is phenomenal," Duryea told reporters on Wednesday.
MATCH PREVIEW Saints v Bulldogs
Former Hawk Duryea played under Ratten in his time as an assistant coach at Hawthorn, and is wary of his influence as the Dogs prepare to take on the Saints in their first game since the resignation of senior coach Alan Richardson on Tuesday.
Brett Ratten during his time as a Hawks assistant coach. Picture: AFL Photos
"They're probably going to come out with some extra venom … but we just have to continue to play good footy, our focus doesn't change," Duryea said.
In light of this year's winning trend for new interim coaches – Carlton beat Brisbane in David Teague's first game at the helm, and North Melbourne triumphed against Richmond in Rhyce Shaw's first game in charge – the Dogs are right not to take the 15th-placed Saints lightly.
Meanwhile premiership trio Marcus Bontempelli (ankle), Tom Liberatore (knee) and Caleb Daniel (hamstring) all face fitness tests this week.
FULL INJURY LIST Who's ruled out and who's a test?
The potential inclusions would bolster the side ahead of the crucial clash at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Marcus Bontempelli battled a sore ankle during the win over the Demons. Picture: AFL Photos
"It'd be a massive lift," said Duryea.
"When [our midfield] is firing it's a really tough midfield to play against, and I think it's one of the best midfields in the game, so to have [Liberatore] come back in … would be fantastic."
"Fingers crossed [Bontempelli] does get up for us. What we saw with him on the weekend having to play through injury and still having a great impact just shows what a character he is and how tough he is," he said.
Sitting one game outside the eight, the Bulldogs can't afford a slip-up as they fight to keep their finals hopes alive.
