Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor admits his depleted NRL side face a huge test against in-form Canterbury on Friday at ANZ Stadium.
A win for the Tigers over the Bulldogs would give the joint-venture their best start to a campaign since 2010 but they are without Aaron Woods (knee), Pat Richards (suspended) and potentially winger Kevin Naiqama (hand) and utility Dene Halatau (quad).
All four played in the bruising clash with South Sydney last Sunday and coach Jason Taylor said the short turnaround hadn’t done his side any favours.
“We’re a bit bashed up from last Sunday and backing up in five days is tough,” Taylor said.
“Playing last year’s runners-up after last playing last year’s premiers is a great challenge for us.”
Canterbury’s giant pack is regarded as one of the best in the NRL and the loss of Woods, who has clocked up 640 running metres in the first three games of the season, is a huge blow Taylor admitted.
“The size of the forward pack is a big factor in this game and everybody that plays them tries to pick their biggest team,” he said.
“To have our number one front-rower unavailable is a blow. But that’s life – we get on with it.
“We’ve had a pretty solid start to the year in terms of having the same team on the park so this will test us.”
With Richards sidelined, young five-eighth Mitch Moses will take on the kicking duties for the first time since the Tigers last faced the Bulldogs in round 19 last season and chalked up a 46-18 win.
His place on the wing will be taken by highly rated young flyer Delouise Hoeter.
The young New Zealander came to the Tigers via Keebra Park High – the same route taken by Benji Marshall – and Taylor said the 21-year-old had a bright future ahead of him.
“He’s had a great pre-season, trained really well,” he said.
“He went to the Auckland Nines, did well and he’s earned his opportunity.”
WESTS TIGERS V CANTERBURY KEY STATS:
* Jason Taylor has won just one of the five matches he has coached against the Bulldogs, his only win coming at South Sydney in 2008, in a 34-30 golden-point win
* The Bulldogs are looking for win No.100 at ANZ Stadium, having won 99 of their 175 matches played at the venue
* Since the beginning of 2014, the Tigers are the only undefeated team when leading at halftime, winning seven from seven
* Canterbury centre Josh Morris has failed to score a try in his past 18 matches dating back to round four last season
