MELBOURNE is not wedded to playing Max Gawn and Braydon Preuss in the same side, but the prospect will be closely explored in the lead up to round one.

The Demons will use the JLT Community Series, training sessions and scratch match against Collingwood next Friday to determine whether the Gawn-Preuss combination is worth persisting with into the season proper.

Both Gawn and Preuss have spent time in match simulation at training as Melbourne's deepest forward out, and coach Simon Goodwin said there was a chance the club could adopt a twin-tall model.

"We've brought Braydon to the club, one, to support Max in the ruck space, but two, to see whether we can play a slightly taller forward line as well," Goodwin told AFL.com.au.

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"We'll continue to have a look at that when we get the opportunity to and we'll also have a look at Max forward as well.

"We've got a very open mind about how that looks, but in the end I don't lay awake at night thinking am I going to play two ruckman or not?

"The team picks itself based on how they perform at training and games, and that'll work itself out."

Preuss has impressed since joining Melbourne on a four-year deal via trade from North Melbourne in exchange for midfielder Dom Tyson.

Gawn and ruck coach Greg Stafford have played a key role in tutoring Preuss, who played eight matches in three seasons at North Melbourne, and the big man has already made key strides this pre-season.

Melbourne is also conscious of not trying to turn Preuss into something he isn't. The 23-year-old does not have the ground coverage, the ruck craft or reach of Gawn, but he can follow up when the ball hits the deck, intimidate opponents with his size and cause chaos when the ball is in his area.

Goodwin said it was important the Demons maximised the strengths of both of their big men should they play in the same side together.

With Gawn in fine fettle, Melbourne was the No.1 centre clearance side in the AFL last season and by quite a margin – averaging 14.2 per game – with the next best, Collingwood and West Coast, tied on 12.2 per match.

That advantage would seem likely to be amplified in 2019 with the implementation of the 6-6-6 starting positions formation giving the midfielders more room to operate and a chance for a dominant ruckman (read Gawn, and perhaps Preuss) to flourish.

"The rules are designed to open up the area, so we enjoy the fact that Max is on our team, but that doesn't mean you're going to connect and that doesn't mean you're going to win clearances," Goodwin said."

"What we did last year … there's certainly no guarantees that we can do that again, we've got to work and get that connection right."

Braydon Preuss and Max Gawn do battle in a 2017 clash. Picture: AFL Photos

With a few key Dees in doubt for round one, the form of draftees Marty Hore and Tom Sparrow has been encouraging.

The coach stopped short of declaring Hore, an intercepting defender recruited from Collingwood's VFL side as a mature-age player, and Sparrow, a powerful 18-year-old midfielder, as chances for an early season debut, but revealed both were in calculations to see some pre-season action.

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"Marty's a little more mature and he's had to find his way after missing out on the draft three times. He's had a really good summer and he's really emerging in our group and understanding the way we play," Goodwin said.

"Tom Sparrow similarly. He's come in, he's done the work and he's embraced what we do, and he's getting a great understanding of what is required.

"We certainly won't be putting pressure on our new players or our draftees to come in and play. They'll play when they're ready."