Tom Boyd is set to return to football this weekend, but whether he plays in the AFL for the Western Bulldogs - or the VFL for Footscray - remains to be seen.
Boyd dislocated his shoulder slightly in the Dogs' round-four win over Carlton, and hasn't played since.
It meant the Dogs were stretched up forward given the long-term absence of Stewart Crameri to suspension, and a one-match ban recently incurred by Jack Redpath.
But the club's football manager Graham Lowe said Boyd was set to return this week, possibly in Sunday's match against West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
"Tom's got through all the strengthening work that we wanted him to get done and has done the extra training we needed him to do," Lowe told the club's website.
"He'll be involved in full training this week with a view to being available for selection, which is great news."
Footscray face Williamstown on Sunday at the Whitten Oval.
The AFL Dogs got through Sunday's win over Collingwood unscathed, but are still without several players.
Midfielder Koby Stevens won't face the Eagles after again hurting his abdomen earlier this month. "Koby has re-aggravated his previous abdominal injury, so we'll take a conservative approach around that to ensure that we don't have issues moving forward," Lowe said.
Meanwhile, Zaine Cordy remains a week away as he strives to overcome an ankle issue.
"Zaine is back into running and working through some speed, and football skills.
"He won't be available this week but he is certainly progressing well and we look forward to seeing him very soon."
Defenders Bob Murphy (knee) and Jason Johannisen (hamstring) are out for the season and until July respectively.
The Eagles are set to regain Andrew Gaff from concussion, however coach Adam Simpson said on Monday that Elliot Yeo (quad) was "touch and go".
