A refreshed Bulldogs outfit will be looking to spring a surprise against a St George Illawarra side fresh from a confidence-boosting victory.
The Dragons snapped a three-game losing streak in style last week, scoring 52 in a thumping of the Broncos with fullback Matt Dufty scoring two tries and producing five try assists.
They also bolstered their depth in the middle with the return of Jack de Belin, and while coach Anthony Griffin wouldn't have been thrilled with conceding 24 points against the wooden spooners he would've been happy with his team's best attacking display of the season.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are coming off the bye and are hopeful of a much-improved second half of the season after claiming just a single win in the first.
Attack has been Canterbury's problem this year, with Trent Barrett's men averaging just over 11 points per game. With 134 points scored from 12 matches, they're the only club yet to score 200 points this season.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
The rundown
Team news
Bulldogs: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is out, with Tuipulotu Katoa to start at fullback. Jeremy Marshall-King (foot) returns from injury but Lachlan Lewis (ribs) and Corey Allan (shoulder) are more likely in round 15.
Kyle Flanagan will be the 18th man and Corey Waddell will start from the interchange in No.20.
Along with Watene-Zelezniak, Joe Stimson was left out 24 hours before the match.
Brad Deitz (hamstring) and fellow dummy-half Jackson Topine drop out of the 21-man squad. The club is not impacted by State of Origin and should be 1-17.
Bulldogs centre Nick Cotric has scored four tries in six games against the Dragons.
Dragons: Tariq Sims will start for the Dragons, five days after he played for NSW in Townsville. That moves Josh Kerr back to the bench and Jack Bird remains in the back row.
Poasa Faamausili will be the 18th man for Anthony Griffin's team.
Adam Clune and Billy Burns were the two players left out on the eve of the match.
Poasa Faamausili suffered a head knock last week and will need to pass concussion protocols to play.
The Dragons have won four of their past five games against the Bulldogs.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Key match-up
Matt Dufty v Dallin Watene-Zelezniak: One in-form player with a future contract on the line goes up against a player who is yet to nail down a position for this season.
Dufty was in sublime touch on Thursday, scoring or laying on a whopping seven tries against Brisbane, and yet still appears to be on the outer at the Dragons with no contract offer for next year forthcoming.
Watene-Zelezniak, meanwhile, is contracted until 2022 but has been shifted between fullback and the wing this year, with teammates Nick Meaney and Corey Allan also spending time at the back.
Both still have plenty to prove in one of the most vital positions in the modern game.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Stat attack
They may struggle to score points but one thing you can say for the Bulldogs in attack is they know how to take care of the ball. Canterbury's 7.1 errors per game is the fewest of any team in the NRL, and much better than the Dragons' 10.1 (second worst).
It does, however, suggest Trent Barrett's men aren't chancing their arm enough in attack – they rank third last in offloads per game and last in line-break assists, line breaks and tries.
Head to NRL Pick'Em and get pickin’ to win a share of $100,000 cash every week!
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com