When you’ve lost your past two games and you’re about to play one of the in-form teams of the competition the last thing you need is a training mishap.

That’s the tale of the tape for Golden Square after key forward Jayden Burke suffered a compound dislocation of a finger at training on Thursday night.

The BFNL inter-league representative hurt the finger while attempting a mark and was taken to Bendigo Hospital.

Golden Square coach Bernie Haberman said he was unsure how long Burke would be sidelined.

“He has to see a hand specialist next week, so at this stage we’ll have to wait and see,’’ Haberman said of Burke’s injury.

“It’s disappointing for Jayden because he was having a good year.”

Burke’s injury comes at a bad time for the Dogs.

They’re coming off poor performances against Strathfieldsaye and Gisborne and face a very much in-form Kyneton at Wade Street on Saturday.

Square skipper Jack Geary said his side needed to roll its sleeves up and get back to hard work.

“We need to lift our want and aggression,’’ Geary said on Friday.

“Up until a fortnight ago I thought we were going okay, but the past two weeks have been a reality check.

“We need to get back to playing the footy we know we can.”

Injuries have resulted in a revolving door at the selection table, but Geary refused to use injuries as an excuse.

“The teams we’ve put on the park have been capable of winning the games that we’ve lost,’’ Geary said.

“The players that have come in have played enough footy… but we haven’t been able to execute the game plan.”

Premiership defender Brayden Dorrington (hamstring) is unlikely to play until after next month’s general bye.

Geary said the return from injury of key forward Travis Baird would help spark the Bulldogs.

“Trav makes everyone around him better,’’ Geary said.

“A few of the younger blokes will walk a bit taller with Trav there and they’ll pay with more confidence.

“Trav will give us a focal point and cause some headaches for the opposition.”

While the Bulldogs have some concerns, Kyneton is flying.

The Tigers can go a long way to securing a top-three berth if they knock off the Bulldogs at Wade Street for the first time since round five, 2014.

Four key players – Max O’Sullivan, Gareth Bowes, Dan Davie and Fintan Brazil –  return to a side which has won its past five matches.