The 20-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and is believed to be one of several names on the Giants' radar, along with Melbourne's Tom Scully and Collingwood premiership players Dane Swan, Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury.
Ward, drafted at pick No.19 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, enjoyed a breakout year in 2009 but was restricted by injury early last year and was unable to produce his best football.
The club hopes Ward will be able to establish himself as a key member in the Bulldog's midfield in 2011 and the local Yarraville boy is regarded as a future leader.
"Obviously we'd like to keep Callan as he's a fantastic player," Boyd said on Sunday from the Whitten Oval.
"We see some real upside in both his football abilities and his leadership abilities as well. It'd be great to keep him and we're pretty confident that he'll be able to renew [his contract] and stay on as a Bulldog.
"He certainly knows that he's wanted around the club. We obviously encourage him and try and include him as much as we can in all the things around the footy club so he knows he's well loved at this place."
Ward, along with the rest of his teammates, greeted the Bulldogs faithful at the club's family day at Whitten Oval.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard was unveiled as the club's new No.1 female ticket holder and she, along with Bulldogs President David Smorgon, was bullish about the club's premiership prospects in 2011.
Gillard - in fine form at the family day - told the Bulldogs fans: "You would have heard me say in the federal parliament that 2011 is a year of decision and delivery. What I meant by that is we've decided we're going to win the Grand Final and we will deliver it."
Smorgon said the club was not satisfied with reaching the last three preliminary finals and will be looking to take the next step in season 2011.
Boyd hopes the new recruits, as well as improvements to their forward line pressure and overall defensive game, will see the Bulldogs at the MCG in the first week of October.
"If we can improve in a couple of areas we think we'll... be very competitive throughout the year," Boyd said.
"We've obviously recruited for a purpose this year with a couple of speedy guys into the group. We identified that as a bit of an issue and we've also worked really hard on our defensive game.
"Collingwood have shown, and so have St Kilda, that forward line pressure is a vital aspect of the game. To be able to hold the ball inside our own forward line really goes a long way towards winning games so those guys like [Patrick] Veszpremi, [Nathan] Djerrkura and even [Justin] Sherman can play forward roles and use their pace to put a bit of pressure on the opposition."
The Bulldogs will travel to Bunbury, two hours south of Perth, for next week's NAB Challenge match against Fremantle.
The club will field an inexperienced side with 15 players, including Boyd, to be rested however Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney is expected to play
