WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 13 August, 7.10pm
HEAD TO HEAD: Western Bulldogs 60 wins, Essendon 89 wins, draws 2
LAST TIME: Essendon 16.17 (113) d Western Bulldogs 8.10 (58), round one, 2011, at Etihad Stadium
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
A full replay will be available on afl.com.au 12 hours after the completion of the match
FORM: Western Bulldogs: WLLLB Essendon: WWLLW
 
SUMMARY
The Bulldogs' second bye came at a crucial time last weekend, given they had lost three games in a row and had a raft of sore players. They dropped games to North Melbourne, the Sydney Swans and West Coast in the weeks leading up to it, with the eight-point loss to the Eagles showing the most promise given that they reeled in a 50-point margin to hit the front in the final quarter.

The week off will have benefited players such as Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins, who both missed the Eagles game with knee soreness, and Dale Morris, who was a late withdrawal from the same match with groin soreness. However, the break hasn't helped defender Tom Williams, who has been reported to be nursing a foot fracture that will require season-ending surgery.

The term "eight-point game" is often bandied about at this time of the year, and this is a classic example of one where the stakes are certainly high. The Dogs must win - and have a hose of other things go their way - to keep their faint finals hopes alive,  while the Bombers - who had their September aspirations resuscitated on Saturday night with their one-point win over the Sydney Swans - are narrowly in the eight and must also win to keep teams like Fremantle at bay.

The Bombers' win over the Swans was thrilling, with Adam Goodes shanking a chance to pinch the game for his side with an after-the-siren shot at goal. The victory came on the end of consecutive losses to Carlton and Collingwood, and helped Essendon avoid sliding into the pack of clubs including Freo, North Melbourne, Melbourne and the Bulldogs that are still mathematical chances to make the eight.
 
QUESTION MARKS
The Bombers face a selection quandary this week with a number of players including Andrew Welsh and Nathan Lovett-Murray pushing for a match. They could also have Tayte Pears, Cale Hooker and Travis Colyer available. Who comes out of the side that staged such a brave performance against the Swans, with no key injuries to those who played?

Have the injury-depleted Dogs got one last roll of the dice left in them? Their backline has taken another hit with Williams out, and Cooney and Higgins are only chances to return. Can they prove the second half of the Eagles' game wasn't their final bullet for season 2011?

Is it time for Ayce Cordy to make his long-awaited AFL debut? The 21-year-old beanpole has been in good form in the VFL lately and was held out of Williamstown's Foxtel Cup win over Claremont on Saturday night. After being drafted in late 2008, Bulldogs fans have been waiting patiently for the father-son first-round selection to put enough bulk on for senior consideration, and with the loss of another backman his chance might have come.
 
PREDICTION
Essendon by 15 points
 
TOYOTA AFL DREAM TEAM WATCH
Looking to make a midfield upgrade in time for the first week of finals? Now could be the time to work Matthew Boyd into your team for some extra punch. If you can afford his $417,900 price tag, he's likely to deliver you at least 100 points having averaged over 110 for all rounds bar two this season, and he most recently returned 126 against the Eagles.

If you've got some cash squared away, or can boost your bank account in a separate trade, you can always look to use Dyson Heppell as that player you need to trade to get Boyd in. The first-year midfielder has been solid in his own right this season with a current average of 83, which has taken his price to $318,500. But with the Bombers due for their second bye the week of the Dream Team grand final, he could be the one to use to bring a blue chipper.
 
Follow the game live in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au and join the conversation on Twitter using #afldogsdons
 
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL