WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade doesn’t think his re-appointment for a further two seasons will give his side a shot in the arm, however the addition of some returning stars in coming weeks might.

The Bulldogs announced on Monday that Eade would be at the helm until the end of 2011.

News of his contract extension comes just two days after his team suffered its most disappointing loss of the season – a five-point loss to the West Coast Eagles at Docklands.

“We’d like to think it was just an aberration, but it is something that we as a team and club, we need to be better at,” he said from Whitten Oval on Monday.

The return of some key personnel is set to boost the Bulldogs, who are eager to finish their season strongly as they fight for a top-four spot and the coveted double chance.

“Robert Murphy will play this weekend [and] Shaun Higgins will play the week after,” Eade said.

“Scott Welsh is returning to Williamstown this week and Daniel Giansiracusa will play at Williamstown round 21, the week after.

“So hopefully, certainly by round 22, we’ll have them all available.”

All four players the coach mentioned missed Saturday’s loss.

The Bulldogs still sit fourth with three games remaining but face tough challenges in the final rounds – with clashes against the Brisbane Lions (Gabba), Geelong (Docklands) and Collingwood (Docklands) to round out the home and away season.

Despite Saturday’s “very disappointing” loss to the Eagles, the coach is relieved that his men are still capable of controlling where they finish on the ladder.

“The good thing is that the next three weeks are in our hands,” he said.

“We still control our own destiny. We play three very good teams [in the final rounds] and I think it’s fantastic leading into the finals that we play three very good sides.”