WESTERN Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer will miss the next 2-3 matches after scans revealed he strained a medial ligament in the win over Richmond.

The club was confident the 23-year-old hadn't sustained a dreaded ACL rupture when the All Australian was involved in a tackle in the third quarter, and he's likely to be available after the club's bye in round 11.

Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell told the club's website Stringer would commence his rehabilitation this week. 

"Jake was involved in a tackle where his knee got twisted and caught under himself," Bell said.

"The mechanism of that tackle has caused Jake to damage the medial ligament in his knee.

"We'll put a framework around Jake from a rehab sense."

The news is worse for Josh Dunkley, with the second-year midfielder to undergo surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder.

Dunkley sustained the injury attempting a tackle in the third quarter of Saturday's game, and the club is hopeful the premiership player will return by season's end.

"We found Josh has extensive damage to the shoulder joint. Without surgical reconstruction of the shoulder joint he would have recurrent dislocation," Bell said.

"We've decided to operate on Josh's shoulder, and we're optimistic he's going to return to playing before the end of the home and away season."

Mitch Wallis looms as a replacement for Dunkley, after two impressive performances in the VFL in his return from a badly broken leg.

Forward Tory Dickson should come into contention to replace Stringer, with the sharpshooter amongst the goals in two state league outings since resuming from an abdominal strain. 

In further injury news, No.1 ruckman Jordan Roughead is on track to play in the VFL this weekend after recovering from a serious hamstring injury. 

And veterans Travis Cloke (ribs) and Dale Morris (broken leg) are progressing well with their rehab programs, with the pair set to join in modified training this week.