WESTERN Bulldogs recruit Barry Hall is expected to play about half of Friday night's NAB Cup clash against Hawthorn in what will be his first official hit-out for his new side.

Hall will be named in the final 26 along with Nathan Eagleton, Ryan Hargrave and Jason Akermanis, but all four will be kept to limited game time.

Rodney Eade said the club wasn't expecting a stand out performance from the former Sydney Swan.

"It's more about getting used to the way we play and hoping to get a touch or two," he said.

"We just want to get some match fitness into him."

Hall is now expected to play all three of the Dogs' remaining pre-season matches.

Eade said Hall was feeling a little edgy ahead of his first AFL game since round 13 last year.

"I think all players get a bit nervous because of the expectations they put on themselves, and he's a bit anxious because it's his first game," he said.

"He wants to feel like a part of the group and be able to contribute to the team so I think ... he's a bit toey."

Midfielder Shaun Higgins said the team was looking forward to implementing Hall into their game plan after working hard with forward line coach Paul Williams on structures over the summer.

"He's contributed well over the pre-season and he's really excited. He showed today he's jumping out of his skin," he said.

"We're not expecting him to be the saviour or anything. He'll slot in nicely to our structure and play that deep forward."

Captain Brad Johnson, who spent Thursday's session walking with a weight tied behind him due to an achilles injury, is expected to play in the final NAB Cup/Challenge match.

"He'll be able to start to run on the weekend," Eade said.

"He's got a very good fitness base; he's only missed three weeks and he had been running up until then so it's more precautionary and it's a steady process we're putting him through."

Will Minson suffered food poisoning after consuming some bad soy milk, but will play next week regardless of whether the Dogs progress to the NAB Cup semi finals or not.

The Dogs were put through a 40-minute match practice session on Thursday, which seemed unusual the day before an actual game.

"Our training loads have been high and we're still doing that at the moment. It's just part of that program," Eade explained.

"It's nothing they can't handle."