Golden Square coach Christian Carter is confident his side is set to peak at the right time of the season.
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The third-placed Bulldogs are well-placed to make a run at the premiership and they've had some good news on the injury front.
Key playmaker Jake Thrum has returned to training after recovering from a broken hand.
"He has an appointment with his doctor next Tuesday for another scan,'' Carter said of Thrum.
"He's been doing a lot of running and he's been joining in some of the drills.
"He's pulled up really well this week and he could be back playing within a couple of weeks.
"Worst case scenario he'll be back in three weeks.
"It will be great to have him back. He's pretty versatile. He can bob up in the forward line and we've played him through the middle as well.
"Now it's just a matter of getting his touch back. Fitness won't be a problem for him."
Carter said the Bulldogs' medical room is the quietest it's been all season.
"Zane Keighran will play next week and then Braydon Vaz is probably two or three weeks away after coming back from a stress fracture in his foot,'' he said.
"The squad is probably the strongest it's been all year. Now we just need to get some continuity with the players.
"To get knocked back from playing last week was a blow. We had a scratch match last weekend and we're looking forward to getting back into it this Saturday, particularly on the QEO."
The Bulldogs are scheduled to return to action on Saturday against fifth-placed South Bendigo.
The Dogs need the four points to consolidate that all-important top three spot.
"It's a big game for both sides,'' Carter said.
"South is a good side and we've set ourselves for it.
"We're confident we can play a good brand of footy. Our last game against Sandhurst was our best four-quarter performance of the season and we'll take a fair bit out of that.
"We'll go into this game pretty confident."
After the clash with South Bendigo, Golden Square's run home is Castlemaine (home), Eaglehawk (away) and Gisborne (away).
Three wins from four games should be enough to seal a top-three berth for the finals series.
"I'm not looking that far ahead,'' Carter said.
"Our focus is getting on the four points this week.
"Our aim at the start of the season was to finish inside the top three and nothing has changed there.
"What happens after that we'll wait and see."
Golden Square defeated a gallant South Bendigo by 28 points when the two teams met at Wade Street earlier this year.
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