WESTERN Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli remains in doubt for the clash with Brisbane at Etihad Stadium as he battles a hip injury.
Dogs skipper Easton Wood is a chance to be passed fit after a minor hamstring issue sidelined him for his team's hard-fought nine-point win over Gold Coast at Ballarat's Mars Stadium on Saturday.
Bontempelli, who was to lead the Bulldogs in Wood's absence, was a late withdrawal from the Dogs' line-up.
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His coach Luke Beveridge revealed post-match that the Dogs' vice-captain had been "pretty close" to playing but had pulled up sore from training on Thursday.
"Marcus wants to play every week and when he's telling you it might be a bit tough then we pulled the right lever there and pulled him out," Beveridge said.
"We knew yesterday that he wasn't playing (but) when you consider the time that the opposition would put in to thinking about our team and what Marcus is doing, it's better that the opposition don't know until they get the team sheet."
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Asked whether Bontempelli would return to face the Lions, Beveridge was non-committal.
"Maybe," he said.
"He had a little bit of treatment yesterday, (at) midday, and he's reported in today that he's feeling pretty good from that.
"So he's a chance.
"If he trains on Thursday, then he'll play."
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After an uninspiring opening when they trailed 26-8 early in the second term against the understrength Suns, the Bulldogs lifted their intensity and gradually gained the ascendancy.
Beveridge said his team had been too cute early but had responded well when asked to play more of a contested, territory game.
It wasn't pretty in the windy conditions, but the Dogs coach said his young team would benefit enormously from the contest.
"We'll take any wins at the moment because this team, (which) hasn't played a lot together, are finding out a little bit about each other," he said.
"That's why today was a real positive experience, because when they asked each other for something they were able to find it.
"So they built a trust and an extra amount of respect in just one outing.
"(We are) 3-4 at the moment and obviously we (now) set our sights on Brisbane and if we can square it up it'd be a good result and it'll give us a little bit of momentum."
