One of the season's most highly anticipated matches delivered a classic worthy of the billing to fuel the rivalry built after last year's stunning preliminary final.

But that's not what the Giants care about - the premiership favourites aren't where they want to be and are desperate to keep the pressure on Adelaide, Geelong and Richmond.

Both sides entered the contest with 4-1 records and six wins from their last seven matches in Canberra - but it was the Giants that prevailed 11.9 (75) to 9.19 (73) in front of 14,048 at Manuka Oval on Friday night.

Giants coach Leon Cameron said during the week the Bulldogs are still the benchmark - and his players responded accordingly to nearly everything he said. Nearly.

All eyes were on Giant Toby Greene in the last term after he was reported for striking Caleb Daniel, a penalty that handed the Bulldogs the lead late in the third, days after Cameron asked him to rein in his aggression.

True to form, he lifted with a crucial goal and took control of the Giants forward 50 to guide his side to victory to kick off a nervous week that could end in suspension.

But regardless of what the match review panel has to say, his performance was something to remember, as was that of Jeremy Cameron, who nailed four crucial goals to nudge the Giants ahead.

Leon Cameron isn't worried opposition teams might try to wind up Greene - he thinks it would just spur him on.

"He loves big moments and he had some huge moments tonight," Cameron said.

"He plays on edge, he's tough and hard. I don't see that as an issue that opposition are going to wind up Toby Greene - in fact, I think it works the opposite."

Even unassuming Giant Aidan Corr seems at home in the leafy surrounds of Manuka, keeping Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli under wraps for large chunks of the game having towelled up Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard in Canberra a fortnight ago.

The Bulldogs suffered a huge blow before the opening bounce with ruckman Tom Campbell ruled out with an ankle complaint, leaving under-pressure ex-Giant Tom Boyd to fill the void against the firing Shane Mumford.

Mumford picked apart cross-town rivals the Swans in the Sydney derby and delivered a similar onslaught, recovering from an ankle injury to rack up another impressive set of numbers.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge had some early headaches to contend with as the Giants nabbed early majors to take a lead, and hunted in numbers to finish on top.

But it was the contentious deliberate out of bounds rule that left many scratching their heads, with nearly everything called deliberate regardless of the circumstances.

"Not confused tonight because it seemed like it just didn't matter," Beveridge said.

"It was just like last touch off the boot, I'm not sure that's how they wanted it to go. Not sure who got the raw end of the stick there, we got a few against us and so did they."

Cameron's three goal haul in the second-term was nothing but a face-saver in the context of the term, the Giants otherwise outclassed thanks to a spurt of Bontempelli and Jake Stringer gold.

The Bulldogs though, were their own worst enemy, throwing away far too many scoring opportunities that ultimately cost them the game.

The Bulldogs were let off the hook against the Brisbane Lions last week after a shocking start - but the Giants aren't an outfit that lets opposition get away with poor finishing for too long.

"Our players who are missing or are not capitalising on their opportunities will hopefully get better over time," Beveridge said.

"There's a shean of quality that you need. You don't necessarily need brilliance but you do need a shean of quality in your forward line.

"It's going to be difficult to win these clutch games when you're a bit inefficient, we just missed too many gettable ones and then they got their tails up in the third quarter."

The Bulldogs fielded a vastly different team to last year's grand final winning side and were forced to finish without Tom LIberatore, who was concussed after landing awkwardly in a big Mumford tackle.

The preliminary final hasn't been forgotten and after this Friday night epic, the rivalry is alive.

AT A GLANCE

GWS GIANTS 3.3 6.3 8.6 11.9 (75)

WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.4 6.12 7.17 9.19 (73)

GOALS: GWS: Cameron 4, Patton 3, Greene 3, Lobb. Western Bulldogs: Stringer 3, Bontempelli 3, Daniel 2, Suckling.
BEST: GWS: Mumford, Greene, Cameron, Haynes, Patton, Williams, Ward. Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Daniel, McRae, McLean, Stringer, Dahlhaus.
INJURIES: GWS: Reid (hamstring), Haynes (hamstring). Western Bulldogs: Campbell (ankle) replaced in selected team by Dale. Liberatore (concussion)
REPORTS: GWS: Greene for allegedly striking Daniel (Western Bulldogs) in third quarter.
UMPIRES: Ryan, Meredith, Deboy.
CROWD: 14,048 at Manuka Oval.