VETERAN Will Minson is in line to play his first AFL game of the season in the Western Bulldogs' much-anticipated clash against GWS on Sunday.

Minson hasn't been sighted at senior level since last year's elimination final loss to Adelaide and Luke Beveridge said the 31-year-old's previous good form against Giants' big man Shane Mumford counted in his favour.

While Minson lost the hit-out count in round nine last year, his aggression and bulk at the stoppages didn't allow Mumford to have his normal impact in the Dogs' 45-point win.

Match preview: Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs

"We'll consider (Will) definitely, but we'll make a decision on that on Thursday," Beveridge said of a player who had 57 hit outs in the VFL on the weekend.

"He dominated the ruck and as the game went on (Footscray) got more and more out of his dominance.

"He played really, really well in the corresponding game last year and that will go in his favour."

Minson's inclusion would allow versatile big man Jordan Roughead to help Dale Morris and Fletcher Roberts contain a Giants attack featuring Jeremy Cameron, Jon Patton, and Rory Lobb.

18-year-old key defender Kieran Collins may also be handed a debut to help curb the in-form trio.

With Matthew Boyd missing through suspension, Beveridge conceded his reserve of running defenders was just about dry.

But he forecast the possible return of midfielder Koby Stevens from an abdominal strain that saw the much-improved 24-year-old miss the past two weeks.

"We've almost lost our pool of higher defenders, there's no one really left at VFL level to come in at the moment," Beveridge said.

"But we think Koby will be available, so that's great."

While he refused to divulge the nature of the "chat" he had with Boyd and Jack Redpath after the duo's one-week MRP bans, Beveridge was happy to admit he was "stoked" with his young midfield's performance in the win over Melbourne.

He said the strong form of Tom Liberatore, Luke Dahlhaus, Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Wallis and others was helping cover for the club's injury-ravaged backline.

"In surfing terms I was stoked," the avid surfer said.

"For our mids to be so prolific with Tom, 'Dahl', 'Bonti', 'Wally' (Liam Picken), Jack Macrae and all the other boys who went through there were quite outstanding.

"They've all picked up the challenge and I think they want to be known as one of the strongest midfield groups in the competition.

"We'll need the same against GWS."