FORWARD Tory Dickson faces a race against time to be fit for the Western Bulldogs' season opener against Fremantle, with an adductor injury hampering the goalsneak's preparation.
The 28-year-old hasn't played since pulling up sore at quarter time in the Dogs' NAB Challenge win over Greater Western Sydney on February 25.
Dickson is coming off a career-best season where he kicked 50 goals, including seven against the Dockers at Etihad Stadium in round seven.
He was also the AFL's deadliest kick for goal, finishing the year with 80.6% efficiency.
With former Bomber Stewart Crameri already missing from his best forward set-up, Luke Beveridge is hopeful Dickson will be ready to go.
"There's a question mark over his ability for round one, but he'll be ready to fully train the week heading into it," Beveridge told AFL.com.au.
"He's just had a little adductor strain and he seems like he's 100% now, but we're not taking any risks with him.
"We think he'll be available, but it's not ideal that he hasn't played a lot of footy leading in to round one."
In-form ruckman Tom Campbell is also in doubt after he picked up an ankle injury in the weekend's loss to Collingwood.
Jordan Roughead looms as Campbell's replacement after a starring performance in the VFL and with Will Minson nursing a hamstring complaint.
While the coach is holding his breath on Dickson and Campbell, he's just about sure hulking key defender Marcus Adams will make a well-earned debut against the Dockers.
The man Beveridge dubbed 'the specimen' has barely put a foot wrong since arriving at Whitten Oval and the West Australian's good form continued on the weekend with a solid job on Magpies star Travis Cloke.
"He's lining up well for his AFL debut and at the moment it will be hard to dislodge him from the 22," Beveridge said
"We knew we were drafting an endurance athlete who has speed as well, and you can tell by the look of him he's a powerful young man.
"It's been a pleasant surprise, he's been able to hold his own straight away against some bigger forwards."
Beveridge said the Bulldogs would seek dispensation from the AFL for Joel Hamling to play in the VFL this weekend after the versatile key defender sustained a "slight irritation in his hamstring" recently.
