Coming off a disappointing 77-point loss to the Eagles, the Western Bulldogs will be desperate to bounce back against North Melbourne on Saturday.

The sides sit sixth and seventh respectively on the AFL ladder, and with finals only a fortnight away building confidence is vital.

Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge says the Roos demand plenty of respect after seven straight wins.

“They are an experienced, strong-bodied group,” he said on Friday.

“They are great in the contest and they’ve shown against some very good sides when they are at their best they can win the day.

“We know that going in tomorrow if they’re right on their game, then it’s going to make it really tough for us.”

Beveridge said North boasts dangerous options across the board.

“They are pretty rounded. They’ve got a really secure defence and some really dangerous big forwards.

“We’ll need to have an even spread right through our lines to beat them.

“Obviously you look at their form in recent times and they’ve beaten the top side last week, so it’s a good challenge.”

The Bulldogs will go in without a recognised ruckman, with Jack Redpath expected to shoulder the ruck duties, alongside Jordan Roughead.

It looms as a tough day for the pair against one of the competition’s in-form ruckmen, Todd Goldstein.

“He’s going to be a big challenge for us,” Beveridge said of Goldstein.

“We’ll need to be at our best to combat Goldstein tomorrow and we’ll have some plans in place to do that.”

The Dogs’ match committee made six changes to the team that fell to West Coast, recalling vital playmakers Matthew Boyd and Liam Picken, but losing Tom Campbell (thigh) and Michael Talia (ankle) to injury.