Both players are recovering from knee injuries, with Murphy coming back from off-season surgery and Cooney from a keyhole operation last week.
While both players trained away from the main group on Wednesday at Whitten Oval, coach Rodney Eade said Murphy was a certain starter after a successful return in the VFL last week with Williamstown.
"Cooney was a bit slow until yesterday, but he has made a vast improvement today and over the past 24 hours," Eade said.
"He is probably 50/50 at this stage, so we are hoping if can increase the improvement at the rate he has over the past 24 hours, he will be a chance."
Eade also named Jarrad Grant and Guy O'Keefe, both of whom have yet to debut, and single-gamer Sam Reid as possible inclusions for the clash with the Blues.
Scott Welsh will return for Williamstown this weekend after missing last round with a back problem. Eade said he was expected to push for selection in two to three weeks time.
He also said the players had generally pulled up well after their trip to Perth on the weekend, although Brian Lake was absent from Wednesday's session.
"They seem to be pretty good. All indications are they are all okay," he said.
"A couple of players have got a virus from the weekend who aren't here, but other than that, they're pretty good.
"The extra day break is going to help – seven days helps because six days is always a challenge when you're flying.
"We've had a really big pre-season so they've got a lot of fitness in them, so I think mentally they're okay and have confidence in their bodies."
Eade said the Bulldogs were anticipating a tough contest from Carlton considering the Blues had lost their past two games after a strong start to the season.
"You always prepare for a team at their best and they're going to have a couple of good ins this week with [Andrew] Carrazzo and [Heath] Scotland and maybe [Michael] Jamison, so they're nearly at full strength," he said.
"They're going to be smarting after the two losses. They're a talented group so it will be a big game for us."
Eade will become the seventh person in the game's history to play and then coach 250 games this weekend, joining Jock McHale, Dick Reynolds, Ron Barassi, Kevin Sheedy, Robert Walls and Leigh Matthews in an elite group.
"I hadn't thought of that; I didn't even realise. It is a bit [humbling], if there's only six. It's a bit of a shock," he said.
"Like player milestones, you think of that once you finish and once you retire, but to be in that exalted company is a big honour and humbling for a little boy from Tassie.
"I've got a great appreciation for the game and I think it's in great health at the moment, so I really enjoy coming to work and being involved with young players and men and try to help them on their path.
"It's a great job."
