KEY playmakers Liam Picken and Stewart Crameri will need to pass fitness tests to guarantee selection for the Western Bulldogs' Good Friday clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. 

Coach Luke Beveridge was confident Picken would overcome a concussion the midfielder received in the loss to Fremantle last week, but appeared less optimistic about Crameri's chances of returning from a hip complaint that forced the former Bomber to miss the trip to Perth. 

"(Liam) seems to be fine, (but) we'll cognistat test him today, which is the test you do to make sure the player is ok to go and play and perform," Beveridge said on Thursday.

"Even when players have passed that test, there's no guarantee they'll be back to their best straight away, but as long as he gets clearance from our doctors, he'll definitely play.

"Whether or not (Crameri) gets the tick off by the medicos is going to be a late call." 

Beveridge floated premiership midfielders Clay Smith and Josh Dunkley as possible replacements if Picken doesn't come up.

The premiership coach has thrown down the challenge to Tom Boyd, with the versatile big man unable to recapture his Grand Final form this season.

He and fellow ruckman Tom Campbell will be opposed to the Kangaroos' imposing duo of Todd Goldstein and Braydon Preuss – a battle that Beveridge believes will have a big bearing on the game. 

"It's a challenge for our big fellas, the two Toms, and we'll be asking them to be at their absolute best," Beveridge said.

"That physical battle in there is really important, and we know (Goldstein and Preuss) have both been covering good ground. 

(Tom's) been good, but he's been a bit like the team in that he's worked in fits and spurts, and that's been our lot so far (this season). 

"We want a bit more control in games and Tom is looking for that as well." 

Midfielder Mitch Wallis is set to resume in the VFL in the next week or two in his return from a broken leg, with Beveridge declaring the 24-year-old is looking "strong and fit."

But Jordan Roughead looks a while off from playing, with the ruckman barely breaking out of a jog at training as he continues his rehabilitation for a hamstring tendon injury.