The Western Bulldogs will be bolstered by the immediate return of Josh Dunkley as the midfielder completes his mandatory isolation after visiting a tier one COVID-19 exposure site.

Senior coach Luke Beveridge said the gun ball-winner would be back at training Thursday and be ready to face Adelaide despite being away for this block.  

“We’ll definitely get him back,” Beveridge said post-game.

"You’ve probably got an idea of what a professional Dunks is… he's probably doing too much.

“He’s got a treadmill, he's got a watt bike, he's got all his weights set up, he's got a net to kick, he's got everything he needs, he's got a basketball court, he's doing his agility.”

Dunkley was sensational in the opening six rounds of the season, averaging 30 disposals per game in the Bulldogs’ 6-0 start.

But he injured his shoulder in round six, against the GWS Giants, and made his return last week against the Gold Coast Suns.

Beveridge has full confidence Dunkley will be ready to go.

“He's probably training harder than his teammates (with nothing else to do in isolation), so he might come in more prepared than everyone else,” Beveridge said.

"He was pretty solid against Gold Coast and he's had that week of disappointment but now he'll be fresh again, so he'll be fine."