The Cowboys breathed life into their season with a deserved win over Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Now they return home to face a Canterbury side that has allowed 174 points in five matches and is the only side in the NRL without a win.
After failing to score in their previous three matches, the Bulldogs managed three tries in last weekend's loss to the Storm.
If they can start strongly in Townsville, confidence could grow and a first win of 2021 could follow.
The Cowboys, on the other hand, will be determined to keep the doubts Canterbury players must be feeling bubbling away for another week.
Cowboys v Bulldogs
Match: Cowboys v Bulldogs
Round 6 -
home Team
Cowboys
13th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
16th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
The rundown
Team news
Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo (hand) is ruled out once more after suffering a new fractured hand at training, on the opposite hand to the one that he injured in March.
Lachlan Burr will start at lock and Mitch Dunn joining the interchange. Esan Marsters also dropped out of the squad on Saturday.
Jake Clifford is the 18th man.
Justin O'Neill (head knock) is set to make his return from injury in the centres in place of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (ankle). Connolly Lemuelu has been named despite being under a cloud with a shoulder complaint.
The Cowboys have won seven of their past nine games against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs: In a late change, Renouf Atoni will start at prop with Dylan Napa back to the interchange bench. Aaron Schoupp will be the 18th man.
Skipper Josh Jackson is out after suffering a torn calf at training, with English forward Luke Thompson replacing him at lock.
Chris Smith has moved from the reserves to the interchange.
Brandon Wakeham, Dean Britt and Joe Stimson dropped off the initial reserves list on Saturday, with Schoupp the new addition.
Playmaker Lachlan Lewis (head knock) was a chance of returning this week but will have to wait until at least next round.
The Bulldogs have not won in Queensland since May 2019.
Match: Cowboys v Bulldogs
Round 6 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Valentine HolmesFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle FeldtWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick Cotric
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Justin O'NeillCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Will Hopoate
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Connelly LemueluCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Corey Allan
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray TaulagiWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Tuipulotu Katoa
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Scott DrinkwaterFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Jake Averillo
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Ben HamptonHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle Flanagan
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Coen HessProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Jack Hetherington
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Sione Katoa
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLeanProp for Bulldogs is number 15 Renouf Atoni
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Shane Wright2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Adam Elliott
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Ben Condon2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Waddell
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 15 Lachlan BurrLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Luke Thompson
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake GranvilleInterchange for Bulldogs is number 8 Dylan Napa
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Francis MoloInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jackson Topine
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Corey JensenInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Chris Smith
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 19 Mitchell DunnInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Ofahiki Ogden
Reserves
-
Reserve for Cowboys is number 21 Jake CliffordReserve for Bulldogs is number 25 Aaron Schoupp
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Key match-up
Jason Taumalolo v Luke Thompson: Taumalolo's expected return from a broken hand will see he and Thompson battle for supremacy in the middle third of the field. Thompson - who played his first match of 2021 last weekend - made a notable difference to the Canterbury pack when he was on the field against Melbourne.
Stat attack
Canterbury have scored 34 points in five matches, the fewest since Western Suburbs scored the same number of points in the opening five weeks of 1999.
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