BRODIE Smith will take on the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night after passing a final fitness test at West Lakes on Friday morning.

After a light run and kick, Smith was forced to negotiate a series of coloured cones to test the movement in his sore left ankle.

The 23-year-old defender was one of the Crows' best players against Geelong before he was subbed out but assistant coach David Teague said he was ready to go.

"We've monitored him and today he actually moved really well – we're excited, he'll play," Teague said.

Teague said the inclusion of Kyle Cheney (for Jake Lever) will help quell the influence of in-form Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer.

Stringer has booted 22 goals in the past six weeks, including four last weekend; he kicked six against the Crows in round four.

Teague believed the 187cm defender could handle Stringer.

"We've got a few options there: Kyle Hartigan he matches up really well with his speed to play against him, Daniel Talia if he's deep can match up on him but Kyle Cheney is another one," Teague said.

"He plays tall and small, he's quite strong, reads the game well, he uses the ball well."

On top of Cheney's inclusion the Crows also dropped Jarryd Lyons for David Mackay.

Cheney hasn't played at the senior level since round 13 and Mackay since round 20.

But, talking up the pair's training and SANFL performances, Teague denied it was a risk to insert two players with no recent AFL form.

"One of the things we drive is the standard we train at and we think we've trained at a really strong intensity, and then they've got to do that every week," he said.

"Their form over the last four weeks at SANFL level's been outstanding.

"We're very confident."