Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is no certainty to play in the club's Round 24 clash against Melbourne.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed Bontempelli was rested due to a "grumbly Achilles" for Sunday's game with Carlton, and may need another week off with Wildcard Round already locked in.
"He's just had a bit of a grumbly Achilles over recent times, so (it) seemed like the time was right, this one, just to give him a week off," Beveridge said after the draw with the Blues.
"If it's still hanging around and we feel like another week will really help him prepare for the Wildcard game, then we'll probably rest him again, give him another week to freshen up a bit. We'll see how we go.
"He'll definitely play before the year's out; hopefully he gets a run of games."
Beveridge said he hadn't planned on managing players.
“I think my words were, ‘We haven't planned for anyone to miss', but it didn't mean it wasn't a possibility, so I didn't fib,” Beveridge chuckled.
“We knew it might've been a chance when that press conference happened, if he didn't get through training with flying colours."
Defenders Connor Budarick (ankle) and Bailey Dale (shoulder) are pushing their claims to return against Melbourne.
The Bulldogs are currently ninth, but can rise to as high as eighth if they knock off the Demons, and Collingwood lose to Brisbane.
However, Beveridge's men could slip to 10th if they lose, and Carlton defeat Fremantle.
