Western Bulldogs star midfielder Adam Cooney has sent a scare through the AFL club ahead of Friday night's preliminary final against Geelong.

Cooney, one of the Bulldogs' most important players, missed training because of illness and a sore knee.

He was also a notable absentee from Monday night's All-Australian dinner, where he is in strong contention to make the team for the first time.

But Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia was confident that Cooney, one of the team's most important players, would be fit for Friday night's match.

"There's a combination. He has got a bit of a flu, which has kept him away from the club, and a bit of a sore knee as well," Fantasia said.

"He has got a double whammy.

"We don't see any problem whatsoever, but it's one of those things where you need to keep him away from people and keep him off his feet."

Fantasia said Cooney came down with the illness in the last 24 hours. But they expect him to return for Wednesday's training session.

"It still might be a lighter session for him on Wednesday, but we'll monitor that and see how he's progressing," Fantasia said.

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