The Bulldogs are looking to make it through to their first grand final in five seasons, but face a selection headache.

While Jake Hindmarsh has been ruled out after suffering a side strain, John Hoey and Dylan Koop are both available for selection this week.

Captain James Richards is still unsure which way to go.

“We’ve got 12 and haven’t made up our mind,” Richards said.

“John Hoey will come into the 11 while Dylan Koop is in the 12.

“We haven’t decided what we are going to.

“There is four blokes to fit into three spots.”

The opening role is the main concern after Jackson Weidemann came into the side last week for the unavailable Koop.

It’s been a position of great change with Ethan Perry, Neil Morton, Koop and Hindmarsh playing there in the last month.

Despite the chance to end a long drought for the club, Richards doesn’t want to focus too much on what could lie ahead next week.

Instead he’s looking to treat the match just like any other.

“It has been a while since we’ve been in finals but it is good to be back there and it is one game away but we just need to treat it like a normal game,” Richards said.

“We are pretty confident we can go in.”

Bowling has been the strength for both clubs this season.

Richards admitted Hindmarsh will be a big loss, but remains confident they can overcome it.

“Jake Hindmarsh won’t play, which thins out our bowling a bit, and bowling will probably be the key to winning the game,” he said.

“Robertson Oval is usually pretty batsmen friendly but we have bowled pretty well recently.

“Jake has been a massive part of it, and will be a massive loss, as he bowls lots of overs for me as he’s really fit and can bowl all day, so it will hurt quite a lot.”