THE Western Bulldogs' midfielders are determined not to let their respect for a Sydney unit they rate as the AFL's best stop them showcasing their own talent at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Bulldogs' rate of winning clearances and contested ball this season puts them alongside the reigning premiers as one of the AFL's top clubs in both areas.

But it's the ability of the Swans' midfield to then run hard from contests to both set up and stop goals that makes them the benchmark, says Bulldogs midfield coach Steven King.

"We've had a good look at their last month and it's pretty evident that they probably are the hardest-running midfield team in the comp," King told AAP.

"They do pride themselves on big bodies but also being able to run.

"That's the challenge for us."

But the Dogs have shown boldness in pushing Essendon and Hawthorn then beating West Coast in the past three rounds and are determined to take the same approach against the Swans.

"Everyone knows in the footy world that they're the benchmark and we're no different to that," King said.

"But we can't go out and fear them either.

"We have to go out and play and put our best foot forward and play the way we want to play."

Before those three encouraging performances, the Bulldogs lost to 17th-placed Melbourne and just scraped home against bottom-placed Greater Western Sydney.

King said the Dogs might have suffered from a fear of failure, but have felt more freedom against some of the competition heavyweights.

"Don't fear anyone, just go out there and play footy," King said the message has been.

"I think over the last month that's really helped guys to break the shackles."

The Bulldogs have lost captain Matthew Boyd and key forward Liam Jones to injury, replaced by big man Tom Campbell and courageous veteran Daniel Cross, who hasn't played a senior game since round eight.

King said the 30-year-old would be desperate to seize his chance and his mature body and hard-nosed approach would be valuable against the Swans.

Sydney running defender Rhyce Shaw returns from an abdominal injury to play his first game since round two.