The Western Bulldogs will consider adding a ready-made ruck option through the AFL mid-season draft amid uncertainty over Tim English's recovery from his latest concussion.
English will miss the Bulldogs' clash with beleaguered Carlton on Saturday night, following a head knock in the win over Port Adelaide last week.
Dogs coach Luke Beveridge admitted the club would have to take a cautious approach with English, whose return-to-play timeline is unknown.
"We'll wait and see how he goes over the next week and what his availability will be," Beveridge said.
"We don't know because of his history - he's been out of action at different times.
"He spent a whole pre-season a couple of years ago non-contact, so we'll tread warily."
The Bulldogs have had to use inexperienced players Louis Emmett, Lachlan Smith and Jordan Croft in the ruck at times this season, with English limited to six games so far.
Tall defender Rory Lobb has been another option, though star key forward Sam Darcy (knee) is out for the rest of the year.
The Dogs are scouring the market for ready-made ruck options that could be called up through the mid-season draft.
"It's something that we're thinking about," Beveridge said.
"It's just whether there's a player available, and our recruiters are working through that at the moment."
Like English, Tom Liberatore is battling concussion, but Beveridge said the veteran midfielder's main concern is a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future.
"He'll be a while, Tom. He's going to re-enter the group training over the course of the next two or three weeks, but he's a fair way away with that knee," Beveridge said.
"The concussion I think is secondary at the moment. We're not really talking about it. We're talking about the knee.
"He'll have some tests along the way about the concussion but I think it's just mainly about the knee at the moment."
Beveridge said the Bulldogs (5-4) are bracing for an element of the unknown against Carlton (1-8) at Marvel Stadium.
The Blues will be guided by caretaker coach Josh Fraser following Michael Voss' departure after five seasons in charge this week.
"What to expect there, who knows? But all we can do is bring it back to us and what we can influence and control," Beveridge said.
