Western Bulldogs forward Stewart Crameri will undergo hip surgery next week, with coach Luke Beveridge hopeful the power forward will return to his best football in the second half of the season.  

Crameri played the opening two games of the season after missing all of 2016, averaging twelve disposals and six marks per contest, but has been hampered by a hip complaint since, and will go under the knife on Monday.

The Club will know more about a possible return date after the operation.

“[It’s] Just a little bit of a clean out,” Beveridge told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s been impeding him a little bit and has been giving him a fraction of grief.  Hopefully that’ll free him up and in the back end of the year he’ll find his best form.”

Beveridge was speaking ahead of the Bulldogs’ blockbuster clash with Geelong on Friday night, with both sides looking to get back on the winners list under lights at the revamped Simonds Stadium.

Although the side won’t be finalised until later in the week, Beveridge flagged the possibility of a host of key inclusions, including Dale Morris, Jordan Roughead, Tory Dickson, Travis Cloke and Mitch Wallis all in the frame to play.

“The good thing is we’re pretty healthy, so any change will be addition and omission,” he said.

But with an unusually health list to pick from, the challenge for the Bulldogs match committee will be getting the balance right with a host of players potentially available after long lay-offs.

“It’s always a trade-off isn’t? The boys coming back; have they got the match fitness, reacclimatising to the level, especially players who have been out for quite a while, like Dale (Morris).

“So we need to make studious and informed decisions around that to make sure we go in fit and healthy and ready to be our best.”