Reigning Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney will play his first game of the AFL pre-season on Saturday night, but he is still no certainty to line up in round one.

Cooney, who is coming back after a knee operation and subsequent groin soreness, will play about 40 minutes in Saturday night's practice match against Sydney at Rouse Hill in western Sydney.

"It's just a conditioning run for Adam, we're not expecting any quality football, but it's just a matter of him getting out there and getting used to match conditions," coach Rodney Eade said on Wednesday.

After some minor hiccups in Cooney's training, Eade said the star 23-year-old had looked good on the track over the past week.

All going well, he will play in the Dogs' season-opener against Fremantle at Subiaco on March 29, but any more setbacks are likely to rule him out.

"If he has a hiccup or he misses two or three days we probably wouldn't risk him, he's not certain at this stage," Eade said.

"I reckon he'll be playing football somewhere, but whether it's AFL on a big ground in 35-degree heat, we'll have to work out if he's got enough work into him."

Fellow midfielder Daniel Cross will miss the clash against the Swans with back tightness, but Eade was confident it was not a serious setback, with the hard-working running player having trained solidly throughout the pre-season.

Promising tall defender Tom Williams, who had his pre-season delayed by shoulder surgery, will again miss.

Eade said Williams would play the Bulldogs' final practice game but would then need more game time with Williamstown in the VFL before playing a premiership season game with the Bulldogs.

"He'll play a couple of games at Willy and hopefully play with us round two," Eade said.

Daniel Giansiracusa, who had off-season hip surgery, will be rested from the Swans' game, as will veteran Nathan Eagleton, while Matthew Boyd will miss the game to attend a wedding.

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