Two sides coming off narrow Round 4 losses, the Roosters and Bulldogs will both look to get their season back on track when they meet at Accor Stadium on Friday.
The Roosters were made to pay for a slow start against the premiers on Thursday and will be sure to explode out of the gates after taking 39 minutes to cross the line in the Round 4 loss.
Despite going down to the Rabbitohs, the Bulldogs meanwhile will have taken plenty of confidence from their Round 4 performance after taking the South Sydney heavyweights to the wire on Good Friday.
The brave performance came at a cost however with Canterbury facing life without back-rower Jacob Preston (jaw) for several weeks and another match with their star flyer Josh Addo-Carr (concussion) on the sideline.
Trent Robinson's men will fancy their chances against a Bulldogs side, still looking to find their feet in 2024 but only need to be reminded of last year's Round 14 meeting when it took a Luke Keary field goal to get a win over Cameron Ciraldo's side.
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Team News
Bulldogs: A change before kick-off sees Bronson Xerri called up to make his Bulldogs debut at centre with Jacob Kiraz shifting to the wing to replace Blake Wilson who is out with illness. Josh Addo-Carr (concussion), Jacob Preston (broken jaw) and Kurt Morrin (suspension) are also out so Josh Curran joins the starting pack and Harrison Edwards come onto the bench along with Kitione Kautoga. Prop Liam Knight dropped out of the squad on Thursday with Chris Patolo added to the bench. Toby Sexton is 18th man.
Roosters: A late change on game day with Nat Butcher dropping out which sees Sitili Tupouniua move into the starting side and Egan Butcher join the bench for his 50th NRL game. Test prop Lindsay Collins returns after missing the Panthers game due to a hamstring injury so Terrell May goes to the bench and Egan Butcher drops to the reserves. Angus Crichton has been named to start in the back row with Sitili Tupouniua moving to the bench. Michael Jennings is 18th man.
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Stat Attack
- The Bulldogs have won only two of their past eight games at Accor Stadium.
- The Roosters have won nine of their past 10 games against the Bulldogs. Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton has scored seven tries in nine games at Accor Stadium.
- Roosters captain James Tedesco has scored 13 tries in 10 games against the Bulldogs.
- Bulldogs second-rower Viliame Kikau has scored five tries in his past seven games against the Roosters.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.