Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney has revealed sleep hasn’t come easy this week, as the former Geelong assistant prepares to face one of his most accomplished former players in Gary Ablett.

“I’d like to tell little Gaz I’ve slept well all week, not worrying about him, but he has bopped up into my mind,” he told reporters on Thursday.

McCartney has a long-standing relationship with the Gold Coast SUNS champion skipper, falling back to 2001 when Ablett first arrived at the Cattery.

The former AFL Coaches’ Association assistant coach of the year presided over the Cats' defence and midfield under the tutelage of dual-premiership coach Mark Thompson, working closely with “little Gaz”, himself.

But McCartney is fully aware stopping Ablett is just one of many obstacles he will need to strategise for, with Gold Coast’s midfield brim-full of talent.

“Gary is a phenomenal player and we have a lot of respect for him here, but I think Gold Coast haven’t been given enough respect in the work they have done with their lesser lights,” McCartney said.

“We all know who they pick 1, 2 and 3 (David Swallow, Harley Bennell and Sam Day) have been, they’re progressing really well, but they’ve done a brilliant job in developing their lesser lights in my opinion.

“Some of those boys are playing good footy and probably not getting the accolades the stars have been getting.”

As is often forecast by senior AFL coaches, McCartney was firm this weekend’s clash would be won in the midfield, and with McKenna’s boys leading the competition for contested disposals with an average of 154 per game, the Bulldogs mentor said his team would need to bring their best to match the SUNS ability to win the hard ball.

“The contest decides what happens all over the ground; their capacity to win the contested ball at the next kick has been very impressive.

“They’re playing really good footy.”