Josh Dunkley is back for the Dogs. Picture: AFL Photos

JOSH Dunkley will line up for the Western Bulldogs on Monday night in a crunch match against Port Adelaide.

The star midfielder hasn't played since round three after battling ankle syndesmosis, but he'll be a certain starter as the Dogs look to get back on track after a smashing at the hands of Richmond last Wednesday.

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"Dunks (Dunkley) will play, there will be at least one change there as you know Matty Suckling injured his hamstring," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said on Sunday.

"Our boys have done an inconsistent job over the course of the year inside and out, but 'Dunks' is a really consistent player who continues to apply himself and he's a strong example within our four walls of what we're after."

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Suckling is set to miss up to six weeks with after straining his hamstring in the first quarter against the Tigers, but Aaron Naughton's return could be earlier than expected.

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Both Dunkley and Naughton suffered syndesmosis injuries a week apart from each other, but Naughton had surgery on his ankle.

"We anticipate after this game he's (Naughton) a chance to come in either for the Brisbane game or the week after," Beveridge said.

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Midfielder Lachie Hunter remains unavailable due to personal reasons, but he is keeping his fitness up and will play in a scratch match made up of Gold Coast, Essendon and Richmond players on Sunday.

"Maddie's up now which is great, Lachie's fiancé. They did have plans to get married but I'm not sure how that sits in this COVID-19 world," Beveridge said.

"We'll see how he (Hunter) comes through that and over the course of the next week or two we'll work out whether or not he's considering to come back into the AFL team."

Lachie Hunter training at Broadbeach on July 9. Picture: Getty Images

Beveridge discussed earlier in the year how conservative the Bulldogs would be in managing Tom Liberatore's load after persistent knee injuries, but it won't be rested against the Power.

"Libba's going really well which is brilliant for us," Beveridge said.

"He's pulling up fine and he'll play again this week."

Forward Bailey Dale has missed some time with a niggling ankle injury but he's set to spend at least one more week on the sidelines.

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