Dennington has been dealt a huge blow with gun mid-courter Ruby Wilson to miss the remainder of the Warrnambool and District league season with a bad ankle injury.
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Wilson, who switched from South Warrnambool to Dennington during the off-season, said she wanted to rest her ankle so she was ready to go next year.
Wilson sustained the injury more than a month ago.
Coach Josie Bolden said her star player's welfare was the priority.
The fourth-placed Dogs have a crucial match against fifth-placed South Rovers on Saturday.
Bolden said it would go a long way to deciding whether the Dogs finish in the top-two, something they desperately want to do.
Dennington is competing with Old Collegians and Merrivale for a second place finish.
The Dogs mentor is expecting a tough encounter with the Lions.
"Obviously, we've got to be ready to go from the get-go," Bolden said.
"I'll be asking the girls to play a steady and controlled game."
Bolden said she well aware of South Rovers' prolific shooting duo Rhi Davis and Abby Sheehan.
She said the Dogs would be looking to cut the ball off before it gets to the Lions' shooters.
Dennington lost to ladder-leader Nirranda by 19 goals last week.
Bolden, who was proud of her team's effort, said the Blues were the best side the Dogs had faced this season.
"Nirranda obviously proved they are the team to beat," she said.
But she believes the loss has made the Dogs more hungry to improve as we near the pointy end of the season.
Bolden said apart from first-year player Zoe Fleming, the Dogs are an experienced side that knows how to play finals.
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