MELBOURNE is still yet to make a decision on whether star ruckman Max Gawn will make his return from injury against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. 

The Demons have three six-day breaks in a row following their four-point win over Collingwood last Monday and Demons coach Simon Goodwin said that situation would be a decisive factor in pinpointing Gawn's return date. 

Gawn has not played since suffering a serious hamstring injury against Geelong in round three.

"He (Gawn) had a really strong training session yesterday and I know he's doing some recovery today and speaking a bit more with our medical team," Goodwin said on Wednesday.

"We'll make a decision later in the week but he's definitely in the frame. 

"We've got a whole range of situations we might be able to work through over the next three weeks but the sooner we get him back out there the better." 

Goodwin said the Demons were not locked into playing a recognised ruckman against the Bulldogs. 

Back-up ruckman Jake Spencer played his first game in the VFL on Saturday after seven weeks on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury and will come into consideration. 

'It's not a definite (playing a specialised ruckman). The team's been playing some pretty solid footy without a ruck," Goodwin said. 

"Jake (Spencer) played in the VFL at the weekend and performed reasonably well so it's definitely an option.

"It's just how long we can go without having a recognised ruckman. We'll decide that in match committee later in the week."

More to come.