Luke Beveridge has added four players to the team that defeated Collingwood last weekend as the Dogs prepare to take on Essendon this Sunday.

Will Minson, Toby McLean, Roarke Smith and Koby Stevens have all been included in an extended squad to face the Bombers at Etihad Stadium, with Matthew Suckling set to miss with an achilles complaint.

Speaking with westernbulldogs.com.au on Thursday afternoon, King said that Suckling’s omission is a precautionary measure, and the 116-game left-footer will likely return to face Fremantle in two weeks’ time.

“The boys just want to manage him and with only a couple of games left before the finals, he said.

“We need him back at his best so hopefully that can all settle down.”

The 18^th-placed Bombers will be full of confidence this weekend off the back of their six-point win over the Gold Coast Suns last week.

“They’re a young group, they’re playing without any fear and they’re taking the game on, King said.  

“So for us, we’re going to have to be right on top of our game, both at the source of the stoppage but also defensively to try and keep the ball in our forward half and win it back off them as soon as possible.

“I think the whole footy world has been impressed by players like [Zach] Merrett, Darcy Parish has come on, and [David] Zaharakis has had a great year and obviously [Orazio] Fantasia forward of the ball.

“Although they’ve only had a couple of wins for the year, I marvel at the way they’re taking the game on, their ability to get the ball in their back half and transfer it length of ground and actually be quite dangerous with ball in hand”

The Dogs’ survived a determined Collingwood last Friday night to win by three-points, and King said there’s still plenty of work to do as September nears.

“As we saw last week you’ve got to rock up ready to play and it’s going to be a great contest, and we’ve just got to make sure we do everything right and keep our eyes on this week.

“[We need to be] a bit more assertive at the source, and our stoppage work can improve a little bit more and our defensive pressure. 

“If we can get back to those good habits it’ll hold us in good stead going into the finals.”  

Round 22 – Essendon v Western Bulldogs
Sunday 21 August 2016, 4:40pm
Venue: Etihad Stadium