WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has put the heat on unnamed individuals to lift following a shock defeat that has left his team's finals prospects delicately placed.

After losing to Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday, the Bulldogs need to win their final two games of the home and away season to be guaranteed of finishing inside the top eight for a fifth consecutive year.

They should comfortably take care of lowly West Coast this Sunday but will then need to defeat Geelong at GMHBA Stadium - a venue the Bulldogs have not won at since 2003.

Beveridge didn't single out the players he felt were below their best against the Hawks but it has been a week of soul-searching at the Whitten Oval.

"Complacency is something that we can't afford," Beveridge said on Thursday.

"But there's no doubt that some individuals who walked away, or jumped on a plane, coming out of Launceston, knew the difference between their very best and what the boys showed was nowhere near what it needed to be.

"There was a stark difference. We're looking for some improvements from many."

Beveridge admitted the tackling and contest work was poor against Hawthorn, with the Bulldogs focusing on those areas this week.

"We need to make sure that we remind ourselves what it feels like ... when we've been at our best at different times this year," he said.

The Bulldogs will be without Tom Liberatore against the Eagles as the important midfielder recovers from a concussion against Hawthorn.

Beveridge is hopeful the 31-year-old will be fit to take on the Cats in round 24.

Running defender Jason Johannisen trained away from the main group on Thursday and will miss his second straight match with a calf issue.

Johannisen is no certainty to return to face Geelong.

The Bulldogs go into round 23 eighth on the ladder and won't drop any lower if they dispatch the bottom-placed Eagles as expected at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.