The 28-year-old could still make an appearance in the latter stages of the NAB Challenge series as he returns from shoulder, hip and knee surgery, but the Dogs are keeping open the option of holding him back to ensure he's right for the clash with Essendon on March 27.
There are no NAB Cup or NAB Challenge matches played the week before the start of the premiership season.
"I wouldn't rule out [playing in the NAB Challenge] completely but at the same time, we probably won't make the assessment until that week and it won't be before that," club football manager James Fantasia told afl.com.au.
"If he misses [the last NAB Challenge], we won't rule him out of playing the week before we play.
"There's a VFL practice match scheduled that week and we can apply for players who haven't had a lot of game time heading into the season to play that weekend."
The AFL contacts all clubs in the final week of the pre-season competition and asks them to provide a list of players seeking permission to appear on the weekend after the NAB Cup grand final.
These players must have missed games during the NAB Cup/Challenge series to be eligible for consideration.
Fantasia said the Dogs remained confident Lake would be fit for round one despite his limited preparation.
"It's a possibility [he could miss] but he's on track. Something would more or less have to go wrong for him not to be right, but we'll have to wait and see," he said.
"At this time of the year, you don't want to be rushing those types of things.
"He's looking better every day, to be honest. He's just got to get some genuine training into him now."
Lake has benefitted from a restructure of the Dogs' medical department that has seen the appointment of physiotherapist Richard Wallace, who is a rehab specialist and works alongside medical services manager Andrew McKenzie.
Wallace has also been working with Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney, who is coming back from hamstring surgery.
Cooney remains on track to play in the next few weeks and could also be considered for the VFL scratch match if his program requires an extra game.
Robert Murphy (ankle) is progressing well and likely to line up in the NAB Challenge next week while Sam Reid escaped structural damage when he received a knock to his shoulder recently and is hopeful of playing in the next few weeks.
Ryan Hargrave, who is expected to miss the first month of the season with a foot injury, is "progressing well and feeling really comfortable", Fantasia said.
The Dogs will add Ben Hudson and Barry Hall to their side to face the Brisbane Lions at Visy Park on Saturday and have no forced omissions from last week's squad.
"With the shorter games and with the additional players, there was plenty of time for the guys to have a rest and they probably didn't have a lot of game time in the end," Fantasia said.
"We'll strengthen up a bit, which is handy, so from that point of view it's an opportunity for those guys to have their first hit out.
"For the guys who don't play it will be management. Everyone got through pretty well."
Brian Lake is a $414,300 defender in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition
