The Western Bulldogs have remained resilient so far this season, but their rebounding defensive stocks are being pushed to breaking point.

Already missing Robert Murphy (knee) for the season and Jason Johannisen (hamstring) for two months, the Dogs (4-1) will almost certainly be without another creative backman - Matt Suckling - for Friday night's top-of-the-table clash against North Melbourne (5-0).

The Kangaroos may also lose midfielder Ben Cunnington, whose knee to the back of Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett on Saturday will likely be assessed by the match review panel.

Suckling hurt his reconstructed right knee and his right ankle in the Dogs' win over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.

The dual Hawthorn premiership player initially thought he had again torn his anterior cruciate ligament, and was relieved when that was not the case.

"Yeah, that's the first thing I thought. Anything other than that is a happy result, so I'm in a positive mood," Suckling said on Sunday.

Suckling did not expect to face the Roos. "I'm pretty sore. Something pretty special will have to happen [for me to play].

"It probably looks likely I'll miss a couple of weeks."

Port Adelaide backman Jackson Trengove is another likely to attract attention for a behind-the-play strike on Geelong captain Joel Selwood during the Cats' win over the Power on Saturday night in Adelaide.

Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield should escape a penalty for a sling tackle applied on Port's Hamish Hartlett, who emerged unscathed. So too should Hawthorn gun Cyril Rioli, who made contact to the upper chest of Adelaide's Rory Laird on Friday night.

There are likely to be a glut of fines served by the MRP for a length melee in the Power-Cats clash.