The left-footed forward became the first AFL player to kick 10 goals in a game since Ben Brown in 2019 when he tore apart a hapless North Melbourne defence on Good Friday.

After an underwhelming start to his career at Whitten Oval since arriving from St Kilda ahead of last season, Bruce looks to have rediscovered his confidence.

But Beveridge believes expectations for the 28-year-old have to be realistic as the undefeated Bulldogs host the resurgent Brisbane Lions in Ballarat on Saturday.

Bruce kicked 14 goals in 17 games last year, with six of them coming in one outing against the Kangaroos.

"(Bruce) popped into my office the other day and we had a good chat about last week and what it looks like this weekend," Beveridge told reporters.

"You never say it won't happen but, to back it up with that sort of scoreline again would be outrageous.

"All the things that I've highlighted he's done well for the team in the past ... it was most of those things that led to him getting the rewards.

"The great thing with a performance like that is it compounds all of the thinking is he's more than capable of doing something like that and it's only going to help him in the future."

While the Bulldogs are coming off a 128-point demolition - the biggest win in the club's history - the Lions travel to Mars Stadium after the narrowest of victories.

Zac Bailey's after-the-siren goal against Collingwood helped Brisbane, a pre-season premiership contender, avoid falling to a 0-3 start.

"It was a really commendable and inspirational victory that they had last week so we imagine they're pretty buoyed by that," Beveridge said.

Lachie Neale was best on ground when the Lions defeated the Bulldogs last season and Beveridge has not ruled out employing a hard tag on the Brownlow medallist.

"It's probably a misnomer that we won't go that way," he said.

"The last three times we've played Brisbane, we've run with Lachie. It's always a consideration."

The Bulldogs will go into the game unchanged, but the Lions will be boosted by the return of ruckman Oscar McInerney, key midfielder Jarrod Berry and defender Darcy Gardiner.

Injured backman Jack Payne goes out for Gardiner, who has been missing since last year's qualifying final due a lingering knee issue.

Australian Associated Press