WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has acknowledged the importance of a win over Fremantle this weekend so the club avoids a potential return Perth trip in week one of the finals.

If Adelaide accounts for the Eagles at Adelaide Oval on Friday night and the Bulldogs beat the Dockers at Domain Stadium, the Dogs will secure a likely home elimination final against the Eagles at the MCG.

Beveridge said the win over Fremantle wouldn't come easily as the home side will be out to make club great Matthew Pavlich's 353rd and final game a memorable one.

The Bulldogs haven't beaten Fremantle in Perth since 2009.

"We’d definitely rather have a Melbourne final, so it's pretty important (we win this week)," Beveridge said on Tuesday.

"If ever a club and a team will be driven by sentiment it would be Fremantle with Matthew Pavlich playing his last game.

"We need to be ready for Fremantle's very best and I'd imagine (the emotion) will have some effect on the way they play."

Beveridge confirmed Marcus Bontempelli would captain the Dogs in the absence of injured stand-in skipper Easton Wood.

The coach also indicated that the Club's match committee was yet to decide whether forward Jake Stringer would earn a senior recall and make the trip west

"I think it stings any player when you're omitted and when you're not considered part of the best 22," Beveridge said.

"It does hurt and it hurts the coaches having to give the message.

"(Jake) really applied himself in the right way and we've just got to work out if it's enough to come back in ahead of the others."

Stringer had 21 disposals, nine tackles and one goal in Footscray's weekend win over Werribee.