THE LOSS of Jake Stringer to injury could be offset for the Western Bulldogs by the likely return of star playmaker Tom Liberatore for Saturday night's clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

Liberatore missed the Dogs' 48-point win over Gold Coast in Cairns with a cracked ribs and lung bruising, but coach Luke Beveridge was confident the 23-year-old would face the Saints.

Stringer is expected to miss just one game with a shoulder injury sustained from a bump by Sun Steven May.

"I just spoke to (Tom) then and he should be fine," Beveridge told reporters on Tuesday.

"The risk last week was the plane flight (to Cairns) with the lung, but being on Victorian soil this week there's no dramas there.

"He'll still need to train, but he's going to fine. 

"He's almost a 100 per cent chance to be available."

If fit, Liberatore will slot back into a midfield that Beveridge is looking for a little more consistency from.

The coach expected more from the imposing on-ball division that faded out against the Suns and says they need to lift against an improving Saints outfit.

"The boys feel like they dropped the ball a little bit in the second half and probably weren't as consistent," he said.

"There's something to aspire to (and produce) a consistent four-quarter performance because the Saints are a great pressure side and they have some tremendous players through there that can really provide a springboard for them."

With eight of the 15 goals kicked against the Suns coming from the midfield, Beveridge is expecting another even scoring output against the Saints in Stringer's absence. 

The dynamic Dog is the club's leading goalkicker this season with 34, 15 clear of key forward Jack Redpath.

"He's been playing multiple roles Jake, and as you saw last week Clay (Smith) could have had a significant game as far as hitting the scoreboard goes, (so we'll) try and get that even contribution and spread of scoring from our forwards and our mids again," Beveridge said.

"We're a little bit taller with Tommy Boyd coming in so hopefully we can hit our threats this week.

"I think we've had a reasonable spread of inside 50 targets, but there's no doubt he makes something out of nothing, Jake.

"We'll have to look to others to (do) that this week."

And with St Kilda a chance to recall Paddy McCartin from his latest concussion setback, Beveridge sincerely hopes the young key forward is over his woes and available to face his side on Saturday night.

The 20-year-old hasn't played since round 15 following his third bout of concussion for the season.

"I hope he's all right and I hope he's in consideration for his sake and the Saints' sake," Beveridge said.