Bulldogs v Cowboys preview

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Bulldogs barking for revenge at Belmore.

For the second time this season we are off to Belmore and the Bulldogs are looking to turn around their form at their traditional home after losses to Canberra earlier this year and a loss to the Sharks late last season. The Bulldogs' form hasn't hit any high notes of late but prior to last week they have been scraping their way to victories and it will be this form that they will hope to help them past the Cowboys and overturn the results the last time these sides played each other. However, they will want to bounce back from the thrashing the last time they played the Cowboys as well as wanting to improve off their average performance against the Broncos.

The Cowboys form has been below par over the past few weeks but they bounced back to a bit of good form with a comprehensive win over the Warriors but questions remain whether that was because of good play from the Cowboys or just the Warriors out of form. The Cowboys need this game to show whether they are on track for the finals series or whether they are still out of form and that last start win was a sudden rise. The return to Belmore of Jonathan Thurston will be a big talking point despite the Cowboys halfback never playing a first grade game at the venue.

Last meeting: Round 20 2016 - Cowboys 36 Bulldogs 0

Who to watch: It's of course going to be a battle of the halves and for the Bulldogs it's going to be all eyes on how Reynolds and Mbye control the game for the Bulldogs considering that the Bulldogs have had some of the most maligned halves play and again it's an important game for the pair to stand up and perform.

All eyes again from a Cowboys perspective are on JT and his pesky hamstring which has limited the Cowboys in recent weeks and in a much needed game the Cowboys will be hoping that JT is 100% to control the game and continue rising up the ladder.

The favourite: Neither side have been in their best form but the Cowboys are the favourites to win at Belmore.

My tip: The signs of form returning for the Cowboys will be enough as they have too much class around the park for the Bulldogs and it's for this reason I think that the Bulldogs will have a tough task against the reigning premiers. Cowboys by 12.

1. William Hopoate 2. Brett Morris 3. Josh Morris 4. Kerrod Holland 5. Curtis Rona 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Moses Mbye 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. James Graham 11. Josh Jackson 12. Greg Eastwood 13. David Klemmer
Interchange: 14. Danny Fualalo 15. Tim Browne 16. Tony Williams 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matthew Scott 14. Rory Kostjasyn 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 18. Jake Granville 15. Coen Hess 16. Scott Bolton 17. Patrick Kaufusi

Referees: Jared Maxwell, Chris James; Sideline Officials: Michael Wise, Rohan Best; Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten