Brisbane's hopes of finishing the season in the top eight have received a boost with Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton ruled out of the Suncorp Stadium showdown.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Crichton, the Bulldogs' most influential player, was a late scratching after injuring his neck in last week's 20-18 loss to North Queensland.
Winger Jacob Kiraz will shift to centre to replace Crichton while 19-year-old Jeral Skelton comes on to the wing for Saturday afternoon's clash.
"(Crchton) Injured his neck last week (and) bravely played on," Bulldogs GM Phil Gould posted on X.
"Refused to be replaced … Pinched nerves and lost power to arm … Recovery period unknown at this stage."
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh missed training with the flu on Friday, but coach Kevin Walters is confident he will play against Canterbury where he can expect an aerial bombardment from Matt Burton.
Walters also confirmed winger Corey Oates will come onto the bench, but was cagey about who would drop off, saying "you will find out tomorrow".
Oates will allow Walters to switch winger Selwyn Cobbo to fullback if Walsh does not get through the game.
"Corey is going to come in with that coverage in the outside backs and he can play in the middle too," Walters said.
The Broncos, in 11th, host the sixth-placed Bulldogs needing to win five of their remaining six games to play finals.
The clash is also lock Pat Carrigan's 100th NRL match, all for the Broncos, with bench forward Martin Taupau to play his 250th top-grade game.
Walsh was on fire in the 30-14 win over Newcastle last week where his combination with captain Adam Reynolds, who returned from a biceps tear after missing 11 weeks, was key to victory.
"Reece has been sick the last couple of days so we've kept him away today," Walters said.
"He should be right for tomorrow. He'll be fine.
"He's had a lot of training done with Origin and all that stuff. It's an important part of the year to freshen him up.
"Reece will get up. He's got lots of energy with the way he plays."
Burton is a master of the towering bomb and with Walsh not feeling his best he can be sure to be tested.
"I'm sure he will handle it well," Reynolds said.
"He loves those sorts of challenges.
"When he is up and about and buzzing around it's a great sign for this footy team.
"We want him upbeat and taking the line on because that's when Reece is at his best.
"We don't need him frustrated, swearing and carrying on. That's where I come into it to try and settle him down and get him back on the same page.
"He's been fantastic to work with and is doing all the right things."
Reynolds has won a premiership at South Sydney with Sam Burgess, one of the great locks of the modern era, but said Carrigan was right up there.
"Pat is one of the best locks I've ever played with," Reynolds said.
"He works extremely hard on his craft, is fit and fearless. He does whatever job the team needs.
"He's happy to take the tough carries but also has the smarts to play footy as well.
"I'm grateful to be alongside him in his 100th and hopefully we can make it a win."
Australian Associated Press
