The Western Bulldogs’ top four hopes are now out of their hands, after Friday night’s two-point loss to Port Adelaide.

It leaves the Bulldogs clinging on to fourth spot – by four points and just 0.1 per cent – before the remaining games in round 23.

Now, it’s a matter of waiting to see what plays out across Saturday and Sunday.

To hang onto their top four spot, the Bulldogs’ hopes hang on the West Coast Eagles.

The Bulldogs sit one win above the fifth-placed Brisbane Lions, with the Lions to play the Eagles at The Gabba this afternoon.

They will need the Eagles to defeat the Lions – or be competitive enough in defeat to prevent the Lions from leapfrogging them on percentage.

After that game, the Bulldogs’ final position on the ladder will be locked in – with just their opponent to be determined.

If the Bulldogs retain fourth spot…

… their qualifying final opponent will be locked in on Saturday night.

Geelong hosts Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium tonight, with the winner all but guaranteed top spot on the ladder. In the unlikely event of a draw, the Dees would still take top spot.

And whoever finishes on top would host the Bulldogs. 

If the Lions leapfrog the Bulldogs into the top four…

… the Bulldogs will finish fifth, with their opponent to be finalised on Sunday.

In this scenario, the Bulldogs would host whoever finishes eighth – which could be Essendon, the GWS Giants or Fremantle.

The Giants take on Carlton on Saturday night – and if they win, they will sew up seventh spot.

In that scenario, if the Bombers defeat Collingwood on Sunday afternoon, they will finish eighth. If they lose, it opens the door to the Dockers to jump into eighth – if they beat St Kilda in the early game on Sunday afternoon.

If the Giants lose, Essendon win and Fremantle win – it will be the Dockers who finish eighth.

If the Giants and Essendon both lose – and Fremantle win – it will be the Giants who finish eighth.

And in the unlikely event all three of those teams lose, the Bombers hang onto eighth spot.