WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is confident young ruckman Tim English is up to the challenge of taking on a resurgent Nic Naitanui in Sunday's clash against West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
The Eagles star was impressive in his return from over 18 months out with a knee reconstruction and he's likely to face a Bulldogs ruck combination of English and Jordan Roughead.
While Naitanui will have the strength and weight advantage over his fellow West Australian, Beveridge is backing English, who was impressive in the loss to Greater Western Sydney, to be a threat aerially and with his ability to cover the ground in just his fourth game for the club.
The second-year tall looms as bargain for the Dogs after he was available at pick 19 in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft.
"That will be a big test because he's a great athlete, Nic," Beveridge said on Tuesday.
"We'll prepare him (English) pretty well, and he won't go it alone.
"There were some encouraging things from a young player so tall, and he's always going to attract a crowd for an aerial contest.
"We're still trying to work through a few things for him to play in another couple of areas (of the ground).
"We like the way he contested ball at ground level and he uses the ball pretty well for a big fella.
"He looks like he's ready to take on the challenge of being a (No.1) AFL ruckman at the tender age of 20."
Beveridge said Mitch Wallis could replace Tom Liberatore after his life-long friend ruptured his ACL on the weekend, while named Jack Redpath, Caleb Daniel and Rourke Smith as also in the selection mix.
Wallis wasn't selected in the JLT Community Series due to injury and indifferent form but was a solid contributor in a VFL practice match on the weekend.
"There are a number of boys who played reasonably well (in the VFL), so he'll (Wallis) be one of those players in the mix," Beveridge said.
"Caleb will be the mix (because) he didn't play on the weekend (due) to an (injury) interruption (in the JLT series)."
Beveridge said Liam Picken is still out indefinitely after his concussion in the pre-season due to the forward still suffering some headaches from the heavy collision with teammate Josh Dunkley.
Another question facing Beveridge is whether he moves skipper Easton Wood back to his customary role in the backline after he struggled in attack and with the Dogs missing some important defenders through injury.
The premiership coach said he was yet to decide where the 2015 All Australian would play against the Eagles.
"I think when you're not having an impact directly in a game, I think it affects a player's confidence," he said.
"We want to drag out Easton's best, and we're probably not getting that forward of the ball.
"There's a chance he might start back this week, but we'll access that as we go through selection."
