Turvey Park set to be without Byrne in top five quest, but key players return for Coolamon clash

But their goal of breaking into the top five will still be boosted by the return of key personnel before Sunday's match of the round against third-placed Coolamon at Kindra Park.

The sixth-placed Bulldogs (3-5) were hopeful of luring their Melbourne-based 2019 best and fairest winner back for the last half of the season following the easing of COVID restrictions in the Victorian capital last week.

But work rostering will make it difficult for the key position player to return to his junior club for enough games to qualify him for finals, should the Bulldogs make it.

"I think we're going to run out of time with him. He's rostered on for work and getting him to play enough games to qualify (for finals), will be tough," Bulldogs coach Michael Mazzocchi said.

"It's one of those things where we don't want to have someone coming in and out (of the team) and upsetting the apple cart, when we can probably spend the rest of the year developing a couple of young fellas who are going to be better for the future."

In better news centre-half forward Mitch Ward is set to return from a hamstring injury which kept him out of last week's win over Griffith, ruckman Shaun Allan has also recovered from a knee issue and youngsters Luke Fellows and Angus Curry return from GWS Giants commitments.

Full forward Brad Ashcroft (back) also played just his second game of the year against the Swans, and has only had half a game so far this year to work out a combination with Canberra recruit Ward.

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"Having Mitch Ward come back in, if we can get him and Brad working together it will make our forward line that much better," Mazzocchi said.

"We played Billy Glanvill across half forward last week, so it will release him to play more on-ball for us."

The Bulldogs will focus on bringing some heat to the contest against the Hoppers after a drop-off in intensity early in the last quarter costing them dearly in a 19-point round one loss.

Turvey Park is also looking for a first away win and a first victory against a top five side this year.

They enter the round one win behind Wagga Tigers and Collingullie-Glenfield Park, but have a superior percentage.

The Demons and Tigers will be favourites to account for Griffith and Leeton-Whitton respectively, making a win for Turvey Park even more crucial.

"Pressure will be a big focus for us, we're working hard on that. It's something that's been a bit inconsistent in our game," Mazzocchi said.

"It was probably ten minutes at the start of that last quarter (that cost us in round one), we lost that intensity and they kicked three pretty quick goals.

"I haven't really looked at who plays who this week, I just know if we want to play finals we have to win games like this."

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