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Greater Western Sydney stand-in skipper Toby Greene will lead his side's bid to end Western Bulldogs' undefeated start to the AFL season.

Toby Greene's first showdown with Marcus Bontempelli since their infamous run-in also promises to be a test of his growing leadership at the AFL's youngest club.

Greater Western Sydney stand-in skipper Greene and Western Bulldogs captain Bontempelli will take centre stage during the bitter rivals' clash in Canberra on Friday night.

Their scuffle in the 2019 elimination final, which earned Greene a $7500 fine for serious misconduct, is certain to feature prominently as broadcasters hype the opening bounce.

How much it is on the minds of Greene, who missed last year's spiteful corresponding game, and Bontempelli's undefeated ladder leaders is less clear.

GWS coach Leon Cameron doesn't expect the Bulldogs to come after Greene, but is confident he will take it in his stride if they do.

"If you poke the bear too much, it can go two ways. I reckon it's a disadvantage to anybody who pokes Toby," Cameron told AAP.

"Every game he's played, clearly he's got better at handling the pressures that come with crossing the white line.

"He'll get a lot right. One or two things he will occasionally get wrong, but that's like all of us."

Greene's leadership has been key during the Giants' resurgence from 0-3; Matthew Lloyd has led calls for the vice-captain to replace Stephen Coniglio as skipper.

Cameron has shut down that suggestion, yet the fact that such chat exists is remarkable given where Greene's career was at in 2014.

The star avoided conviction but was fined $2500 in court after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful assault; GWS imposed a five-game ban and $5000 fine for drinking while injured and failing to properly notify the club.

"We got him into the room and told him what we thought," former co-captain Callan Ward recalled.

"He was a wreck. He was emotional, frustrated that he couldn't play footy.

"He was really angry.

"It's not something you enjoy doing as a leader, but it was a good learning curve. He probably realised he had to grow up a bit faster."

Cameron remembered the sanction hit Greene "really hard".

"You admire people who learn from their mistakes," he said.

"Some people can't take it on board, they reoffend or do something else. He's learned from it."

Cameron is reluctant to call it a turning point, but admitted Greene's leadership has grown in recent years.

"He's the opposite of the loud, 'stand up and look at me' leader. He told us he wants to lead by letting his actions do the talking," he said.

"He's done that then got more and more confident in terms of using his voice and knowledge.

"I understand why people think he's a bit of a lad and a larrikin. I don't know want him to lose that, that's part of what players and staff love."

Ward declared Greene "has turned into one of our best leaders", also rejecting his reputation as a firestarter.

"I don't think Toby really gets into the face of the opposition first. He always reacts," Ward said.

"And not always aggressively, more in his own way through a few sly comments."