Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says he would welcome back Matthew Boyd with "open arms" for Friday night's AFL clash with St Kilda, but his surgeon will have a big say in the decision.

Boyd had a plate inserted to mend a fractured hand last week and missed last Friday night's win over Adelaide.

Eade said the midfielder, who won the club's best and fairest award last year and also started this season in strong form, wanted to play the Saints and there was no fitness or pain concerns.

But a consultation with his surgeon on Wednesday will be crucial.

"He's a chance, he'll be seeing the surgeon tomorrow, but he's done a lot of running and a lot of training, he feels confident in himself, but we've just got to get the all-clear," Eade said on Tuesday.

"It's not a pain issue and he's not going to do any more damage to it, it's just a matter of whether he gets the all-clear to play."

With potential Bulldogs midfielders Callan Ward and Liam Picken also on the injured list, Eade said it was not ideal given the Saints' strength in that area, but they had the depth to cope.

"You'd certainly welcome (Boyd) with open arms, there's no doubt about that, but the guys did well last week against a reasonable midfield at Adelaide so hopefully they can stand up again."

Eade said defender Ryan Hargrave, who missed the Crows match with neck soreness, was a good chance to return.

He does not anticipate any form-based changes, with ruckman Will Minson set for another VFL appearance after his replacement Jordan Roughead performed well in his debut against the Crows.

In a round in which many other matches will pit traditional rivals against each other, Bulldogs midfielder Daniel Cross said his club and the Saints were starting to develop their own rivalry.

The Dogs suffered an agonising seven-point loss to the Saints in a low-scoring preliminary final last season.

The two sides also clashed in this year's pre-season final, the Bulldogs triumphing by 40 points, with Barry Hall booting seven goals.

Cross said the Dogs, whose losses this season have come against Brisbane and Collingwood, wanted to claim a high-ranking "scalp" and hoped the Saints delivered a finals-like contest.

"We certainly hope so and that's where we're trying to get to with our training methods and those sort of things," he said.

"We hope it's a tough battle, essentially it's rivalry round, so it's going to start on Friday night.

"We hope it's a clean, tough fight and that's what we're aiming and hoping to get."

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