RAGING Brownlow Medal fancy Dustin Martin might be the game's No.1 player right now, but it could be one of Richmond's other guns that cops the most attention from Greater Western Sydney.

Martin is a contested ball freak and almost unbeatable at stoppages, so there's little doubt the Giants will have a plan to combat the powerful Tiger in Saturday's preliminary final at the MCG. 

But according to GWS co-captain Callan Ward, a player with similarly impressive numbers when it comes to the inside part of the game, Martin might not find himself with a blanket tag when the ball is bounced this weekend.

Stephen Coniglio might stand the Richmond gun, but his teammates can expect similar treatment from the underdogs.

"Everyone is talking about 'Dusty' being their biggest threat but I think they've got a great midfield group," Ward said.

"(Trent) Cotchin is playing some really good footy and they've got (Dion) Prestia as well. 

"Obviously Martin is the one getting off the chain but I guess we're pretty comfortable with the structures we've got around stoppages. 

"We either have a player tagging so you help that guy out, or we just have a target player and we go after him as a midfield group. 

"Pre-stoppage we have practices in place to help us with those sorts of players and we're pretty confident our guys can get the job done." 

As the best inside ball winner at GWS, Ward knows exactly what has made Martin such a special player in recent years, and he's well quantified to talk about just how the must-watch Tiger has transitioned from great to elite over the past 18 months. 

"He's hurting teams on the inside with his fend-off and his tackling, but his run away from stoppages is a bit like (Patrick) Dangerfield these days, and he's kicking goals as well," Ward said. 

"Especially in the forward half of the ground he's really dangerous and that’s where I think he's lifted his game in the last couple of years." 

Along with his haircut and neck tattoos, Martin's 'don't argue' has become a trademark for the 26-year-old, and the list of opposition players left downtrodden by his powerful palm has become longer by the round. 

It's a select group that Ward wants no part of but it doesn't mean he can't admire the Dusty fend, mostly from afar.

"He's the best I've seen, 100 per cent the best I've seen, he's so hard to tackle," Ward said. 

"And he does it about 45 times a game."