Western Bulldogs assistant coach Rohan Smith says getting the contest right will be a major focus come Friday night against Sydney.

Both the Bulldogs and Swans will enter the clash off defeats, and sitting in 10^th and eighth spot respectively makes securing a win all the more critical.

“We have to go up there tomorrow night and get the contest right, but also take the game on as well, and test Sydney out defensively - if we can do that, it will hold us in good stead,” Smith told RSN on Thursday morning.

“Even when we played against them in round three at Marvel, they’ve had some really good games where they’ve moved the ball through the middle of the ground with speed.

“Trying to limit their ball movement and spark through the middle of the ground into their tall forward line will be a focus for us as well.”

Smith was excited by the prospect of Ed Richards return to the side tomorrow night, while praising last week’s debutant Dom Bedendo.

“I think Ed has had a fantastic season in the way he has grown his game as a defender,” Smith said.

“When you take out Caleb Daniel as well as Taylor Duryea from our backline, it sort of leaves a little hole there, so Ed coming back in this week is a real positive for us.

“The way that he moves the footy, his courage in the air, and the way that he uses his speed to defend makes him a real asset for us.

“To see a kid like Dom come in, go back with courage to take a mark, and kick the goal – some of his defensive stuff from a wing was really good as well.

“He showed some really good signs in that first half, but he probably ran out of steam in the second half, as you do in your first game. He showed some encouraging signs for us.”

The Bulldogs will confirm their round 17 team tonight at 6.20pm.