Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has dismissed any suggestion of widespread squad rotation this weekend, even with his side locked into third place on the NRL ladder.
The Bulldogs cannot move from third regardless of their round 27 result against Cronulla on Saturday, but Ciraldo said he would not be copying the approach of Penrith, who fielded a severely depleted line-up in their defeat to Canterbury on Thursday night.
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“When you’re resting players, it depends on what part of the journey you’re on,” Ciraldo told ABC Sport. “Melbourne and Penrith are ahead of the journey, so it’s easy for them to rest. If we have some niggles I’m not going to throw them out there. We will rest them if we have to.”
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The Bulldogs are set to regain Viliame Kikau, who missed last week after being hospitalised with a boil. Ciraldo joked that the enforced absence may have been a blessing.
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“If there was one day I would’ve wanted to rest was Kiks. The universe did it for us, and he ended up in hospital. He is refreshed and energetic and back at training tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy confirmed star halfback Jahrome Hughes is likely to feature against Brisbane after a month out with a shoulder injury.
Hughes has pushed to play before the finals, with Bellamy adding, “He thinks he is feeling okay with the shoulder, so hopefully the week will turn out okay.”