The Bulldogs are expected to welcome back best and fairest winners Rob Rodgers (from a groin strain) and Luke Adams and top midfielder Trent Nesbitt (hip) to the team that dispatched easybeats Smythesdale last weekend.

And in a further boost, veteran ruckman Scott Winduss is also likely to play his first game of the season.

However, the news is not so good for coach Joel Adams, who will miss at least another game with an ankle injury.

Adams rolled his ankle in the win over Rokewood-Corindhap and was  forced to coach from the sidelines against Smythesdale.

There are also injury concerns at Creswick, with top utility Alex Code to miss with a hamstring problem.

Code, who represented the Central Highlands at interleague level last year, is one of two changes to the Wickers side that slipped up to Carngham-Linton last Saturday. That result saw the Wickers slide from eighth to 11th on the table.

“We were incredibly undisciplined and moved away from everything that we stand for as a group. Our efforts this week will underline how professional we are,” coach Len Watson said.

The Wickers have won the past two encounters between the two sides, including a 10-goal final term to win last year’s clash by 32 points.

PREDICTION: Daylesford just.