Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna believes his Suns' best hope of upsetting the Western Bulldogs on Saturday lies with what was once the `Dogs' big weapon - speed.

In previous AFL seasons, the Bulldogs' pace and precise kicking has cut opponents apart.

While the slumping preliminary finalists of the past three seasons have struggled in those areas this year, McKenna said it was his fledgling team's best chance of downing more experienced opponents.

"We need to play fast footy because the more we do that the better composed we're going to be," McKenna told reporters on Monday.

"As soon as we play safe we get gobbled up.

"It's like a 16-year-old boxer facing a 28-year-old boxer - you (can't) sit in the corner and wait for it to happen, because if it happens you know you're going to end up on the canvas.

"We need to throw some jabs and get out and get on the front foot, because if we sit back we're an easy target.

"That's the challenge. It's natural that when things go against you everyone wants to go back into their shell and we can't do that."

McKenna said the big positive for his side so far was that they were winning their share of the contested ball, despite consistently facing stronger opponents.

For periods in matches they have made it count.

They led unbeaten Geelong at halftime in round 10 and pushed Hawthorn for a half in Launceston on Saturday.

But in both games, once the tide turned, they were swamped, outscored by 77 points in the second half by the Cats and 54 points by the Hawks.

"Slowly but surely we're playing longer minutes of better footy, an AFL standard footy, men's footy if you like to call it that," McKenna said.

The Suns will be boosted by the return of No.1 draft pick David Swallow and athletic ruckman Zac Smith, both rested against the Hawks.

Promising key forward Charlie Dixon might also return, but big-kicking left-footer Trent McKenzie will be rested.

No.2 draft pick Harley Bennell faces athird weekend on the outer, since skipping a compulsory training session.

"It's about him buying in. That's happened for a week, is that enough to convince the leadership group? I would think probably not," McKenna said.

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