Shutdown specialist Liam Picken knows he has a huge challenge ahead of him when the Western Bulldogs host Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Picken earned a reputation as a miserly midfield tagger through his initial years in the AFL. However, the 27-year-old has warmed to a new role in defence for the Bulldogs in 2014.

“This year it’s been really good playing in the backline… It’s a real challenging role, just like the midfield – obviously you get a new opponent every week,” Picken said.

“You have to be switched on or you are going to get goals kicked on you if you’re not up to it.”

Pinpointing Hawks dynamo Cyril Rioli and Kangaroos’ speedster Lindsay Thomas as his toughest opponents, Picken’s biggest challenge looms on Sunday against an Adelaide forward line featuring the likes of Eddie Betts, Jared Petrenko, Matthew Wright and Tom Lynch.

“There are so many small forwards playing now… every side’s got a couple,” Picken said.

“Obviously [Thomas] is so dangerous, so he only needs a couple of kicks and he can kick so many goals really quickly, so you’ve got to be on your toes.

“Also Cyril Rioli, he is just explosive with his pace - those are some of the games that you look forward to.”

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