Canterbury could be without star fullback Brett Morris for the first month of the new season, opening the door for young flyer Brad Abbey.
Morris had a second round of knee surgery on Monday after being plagued by problems in the NRL pre-season and will have to watch from the sideline when the Bulldogs open their season against Manly on Friday.
Coach Des Hasler’s star recruit Will Hopoate is expected to fill in at fullback but it leaves a role in the backline vacant for Abbey.