Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has forecast some changes ahead of Sunday’s clash against North Melbourne in a bid to get the club back on the winners list ahead of the mid-season bye.

After a disappointing 22-point loss to Port Adelaide last Friday night, the Bulldogs have lost three games in a row to enter round 14 in eighth place on the ladder.

Beveridge is expecting a tough challenge from the Kangaroos and outlined one or two changes to the side.

‘’Maybe one or two (changes),” Beveridge told reporters at VU Whitten Oval on Thursday.

“We are aspirational. We feel like in recent times we’ve identified the things that have let us down and a couple of surprises in a couple of areas in our game that we haven’t liked and over the journey we’ve always made sure we’ve deployed our absolute best 23 week to week.

“We will keep giving lads an opportunity if they have played well at state league level and if they have put pressure on guys who maybe have had a dip in confidence or a drop in form.”

Beveridge said Mitch Hannan is in contention to return after a best on ground performance in last Saturday’s VFL win over Frankston, while Tim O’Brien also put his hand up for a recall.

“Mitch will be one that will be considered, he played pretty well the week before as well, the Scray (Footscray) have won their last two games under Stewart Edge and it has been a challenging period,” he said.

“Now with guys like Mitch playing some good footy and obviously Westy (Rhylee West) came in last week after a couple of solid performances that’s important and that’s healthy for us, it’s what we need.”

Young Bulldog Sam Darcy has had some bad luck on the injury front since arriving at the club and is still a couple of weeks away from returning from his latest setback, according to Beveridge.

“He had a plate put in and he had his four wisdom teeth taken out as well because it was one of those common ones where there’s a weakness in the jaw where your wisdom teeth are and he had a crack through there where he copped one in a marking contest,” he said.

“He’s been a bit swollen but now he’s training, he’ll train today but he’ll still be a couple of weeks away.

“There’s an urgency about Sam, he wants it now. For any young player it’s really difficult when you’ve had some bad luck with your body.”

Beveridge said star half-backs Ed Richards and Jason Johannisen are making progress in their returns return from hamstring injuries and will be available in the weeks after the bye.

“Now those two boys are progressing through their checkpoints and their milestones that they need to tick off and not too long after the bye they’ll come into full training, and they’ll be considered to come back in,” he said.

The Western Bulldogs have won eight of the past ten encounters against North Melbourne and will be aiming to reach the bye with four points in the bank.