The Western Bulldogs will return from the bye against the Swans in Sydney on Thursday night with several players putting their hand up for a recall to the senior side according to coach Luke Beveridge.

Defender Matthew Boyd has missed the past two games with a shoulder complaint, while Tom Liberatore has spent the last two weeks in the VFL.

Beveridge said if the pair were selected it would result in some unlucky omissions from the team that defeated St Kilda by 40 points in round 10.  

"We expect (Boyd) to play, but he's got to get through training today," Beveridge said on Monday.  

"The hard thing for Libba at VFL level is that he gets that attention and getting tagged.  

"We'll consider … that. We don't want to torture him, and we saw some really good signs last game.  

"The challenging thing for the boys is the senior team played pretty well, and we're not going to force a change and force someone out who has got really good form."  

Key forward Travis Cloke will also be considered after the former Magpie kicked three goals in the round two clash between the two sides.

Beveridge spent time embedded with the Queensland Rugby League State of Origin team during the Bulldogs' bye in round 11, and said the "fly on the wall" experience was a great learning exercise despite the Maroons going down to New South Wales.

The chance for the premiership coach to be involved with one of Australian sport's greatest rivalries came through a club sponsor.

Asked if the week off came at an inopportune time for the Dogs after their most consistent performance of the season against the Saints, Beveridge said he was unsure, but stressed that his side couldn't afford to waste the progress they had made.

"I don't necessarily think we needed a break," he said.

"We're probably a little bit fresher in the mind because we haven't had that extra month of training (due to starting pre-season later).

"Our real challenge now is to pick up that momentum we started to gain in the last game, and start like that in Sydney."