Melbourne are set to receive much-needed reinforcements after a disappointing loss to AFL ladder-leaders Adelaide.
The depleted Demons were no match for the Crows on Saturday night, going down 17.14 (116) to 10.10 (70) at Darwin's Tio Stadium.
It was a rough night for the Dees, made worse by forward Dean Kent dislocating his shoulder when he landed awkwardly in a tackle.
Kent will have scans on Monday, while veteran midfielder Bernie Vince is certain to face match review panel scrutiny after being reported for a head-high bump on Adelaide's Richard Douglas.
The sixth-placed Demons face a major test against fourth-placed Port Adelaide next Saturday but will be boosted by the return from injury of forward Jack Watts (hamstring) and midfielder Dom Tyson (knee).
Prime mover Jack Viney is also a chance to return ahead of schedule from a foot injury sustained in round 15.
"Jack Watts and Dom Tyson will be back next week. They were very close to playing tonight," coach Simon Goodwin said on Saturday night.
"Jack Viney ran today, and ran quite strongly, so he's certainly on track to play next week as well.
"We've got a few guys that are coming back into the mix, which is fantastic, but we're more concerned with what we can control right now and that's the level of how we play."
Nathan Jones (quad) and Christian Salem (hamstring) are both set to return within the next fortnight, while gun youngster Angus Brayshaw will play in the VFL next week after his latest concussion setback.
Watts looms as a particularly important inclusion after Melbourne's forward line struggled against Adelaide.
In just his second game back after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer, Jesse Hogan was held goalless, while fellow key target Tom McDonald managed just one major.
"It's a work in progress," Goodwin said.
"It's got nothing to do with Jesse, it's just our method of play going inside-50. Clearly the Crows were a lot better at that than we were."
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