Essendon have only 24 fit players to choose from, with five more added to the injury list, headed by key defender Dustin Fletcher and ruckman David Hille, as they bowed out of the finals race with a loss to Adelaide last weekend.

Jason Laycock, Leroy Jetta and Courtenay Dempsey are also out.

The Dogs are hoping to play themselves back into form against the weakened Bombers having won just one of their past five matches and heading towards September in the most dismal form in memory for a top four side.

''Essendon is decimated, I suppose, but I can guarantee that Essendon will put out 22 players on the field and they'll be having a red-hot go,'' Bulldogs assistant coach Peter Dean said.

''We do need to win. We would probably go into the game as favourites, but we're going to go into it with an underdog attitude.

''We've got the confidence in our players and we think with just a few minor tweaks and adjustments in their attitude, we can get the results we had earlier in the year.''

The Bulldogs are already guaranteed at least third place for the finals, regardless of the result of its two remaining games.

But they have slumped to be unrecognisable from the side which was matching stride with premiers Geelong for the first 15 rounds.

There is good news on the horizon, with veteran star Scott West and youngster Tom Williams likely to see action for the Bulldogs prior to the finals as they battle back from injury.

The Dogs will give midfielder West another week in the reserves. AAP