MELBOURNE fans will see their future midfield on display next week with Jordan Gysberts likely to hold his spot and play alongside fellow young guns Tom Scully and Jack Trengove for the first time.

Gysberts, the Demons' third selection in last year's draft, impressed with 26 touches on debut against Geelong and is set to face Carlton next Saturday.

He will be joined by the club's first two picks, Scully and Trengove, who were rested from Demons' 54-point loss to the Cats but will return to form the nucleus of the side's new engine room.

"You could argue he was in our better players," coach Dean Bailey said about Gysberts' performance.

"I'd like to think when our young players get a game, I'd prefer them to play at least a couple to see how they go before we look at whether they can play their third or fourth.

"Once you go from a VFL to AFL intensity, you've got to be careful about too many expectations early in the week but hopefully he'll come through ready to go next week."

Bailey was happy with how Gysberts handled his brief, which was to compete at the stoppages, win first possession and block his opponent at the clearances.

"We had confidence in him starting in at the centre bounce and confidence in him playing as a centre square player with his clearance stuff," he said.

"We think he's going to be a pretty good player for us; a tall-type midfielder is probably the mix we were looking for."

Bailey denied the Demons mentally conceded Saturday's match by resting their two in-form youngsters.

"We still had 22 players go out there and play," he said.

"If we're relying on X and Y player, I think we're moving in the wrong direction.

"We've managed them particularly well. They've played four NAB Cup, nine games and internal [games], so it's about 15 games in 16 weeks. Their load has been high and we took the opportunity."

Bailey admitted the Demons were a "bit off" in the opening term when they allowed the Cats to get the early jump and build a quarter-time lead of 22 points.

"They forced mistakes and the opportunities they took, they took quickly and effectively," he said.

"Their first 10 minutes were certainly more intense than ours were."

Colin Garland was the game's only injury with Bailey saying the young Demon defender had suffered a "jarred knee".