Early season pace setters, the Sydney Roosters, will face arguably their biggest test of the year this Sunday, coming from the team currently languishing in second last position on the NRL ladder.
The Canterbury Bulldogs have failed to reproduce the form that took them to a preliminary final birth in 2009, losing their opening two matches to start this season.
Back to back losses to the Newcastle Knights and the St George Illawarra Dragons is certainly not up to standard for a Bulldogs side who were the only team last season to not lose consecutive matches.
The Belmore club, however, are now staring at a 0-3 record to start season 2010 when they face a Roosters outfit brimming with confidence
Just about the only good news for the Bulldogs coming into this encounter surrounds their home ground advantage, having won seven of the nine clashes they have played against Brian Smith’s men at ANZ stadium.
But the Bulldogs will need more than the help of their home fans to get them over the line against their Eastern Suburbs rivals.
On the field, Kevin Moore’s men have been error prone and ill disciplined, which is in stark contrast to the form they displayed last season.
The Bulldogs ill discipline has already seen key players serve stints on the sideline, with Michael Ennis a notable absentee from last Friday’s loss to the Dragons.
Although Ennis will play on Sunday, Canterbury will now be without key forward Gary Warburton, who has been suspended for two matches.
Warburton now joins fellow key forwards Mickey Paea and Michael Hodgson on the sidelines, with the latter two players out injured for an extended period.
With Ennis back in the side however, the Bulldogs will look to dominate around the ruck against a Roosters outfit who were torn to shreds up the middle by the Wests Tigers during the opening quarter of the game last week.
Although the Tigers failed to capitalise on their onslaught against the chooks, the Bulldogs have shown they are a far more consistent unit when they go on a roll with the football.
Having started slowly in their opening two matches, Canterbury will be desperate to begin well against a Roosters outfit which has made a habit of punishing opposition defences when in possession.
While the Roosters are well served in attack, with the likes of Todd Carney, Mitchell Pearce and Braith Anasta dictating terms, the Bulldogs also possess a potent backline with tries written all over it.
Bryson Goodwin and Josh Morris each scored more than 20 tries last season in performances which ensured both players were rewarded with selection in last year’s Kiwi and Kangaroo squads for the Four Nations tournament.
Add the inclusion of duel Premiership winner Steve Turner and the Bulldogs certainly have an aura of potency about their backline.
And for all the suspension and injuries currently plaguing the side, Canterbury still have the players that matter upfront, notably Andrew Ryan, David Stagg and Ben Hannant.
Despite the slow start this season, it seems the punters themselves know better than to write off the boys from Belmore.
Tab Sportsbet currently has the Bulldogs as a $1.85 favourite for the match against the Roosters, despite their low position on the NRL ladder.
The Bulldogs are known for their ability to overcome adversity and Sunday’s match against their great rivals serves as a terrific opportunity to get their season back on track against a Roosters side who are also on a path to redemption.
Whilst not underestimating the Chooks in any way, Brian Smith’s men will probably have to play their best game of the year to date if they are to stop a Bulldogs team that will most likely show up with the form that carried them to within a game of last year’s Grand Final.
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