But while Cameron Ciraldo concedes last year's semi-finalists have their backs against the wall, the coach will not tell his players their finals hopes are on the line against Parramatta on Monday.
As of Thursday, the 14th-placed Dogs were still uncertain whether State of Origin hopefuls Jacob Kiraz and Stephen Crichton would face the Eels.
Ciraldo revealed Kiraz played last week's 22-16 loss to Wests Tigers with a calf strain suffered in the warm-up and is considered a 50-50 chance of lining up.
The star outside back only recovered from a knee injury two weeks ago and was unable to train on Thursday.
Bulldogs captain Crichton has aggravated the shoulder injury that sidelined him for a fortnight in April, but took part in the session.
"A bit more hopeful on him (playing than Kiraz)," Ciraldo said.
"Our team's really unknown at this stage, we're probably very lucky we're playing on Monday."
Missing one last hit-out for Canterbury would loom as a setback to the star duo's hopes of selection in the NSW team for Origin II on June 17.
But their presence is just as crucial for the Bulldogs (4-8), whose finals hopes would hinge on defying 12 years of history if they were to lose to Parramatta.
No team have recovered from a 4-9 start to play finals since 2013, when North Queensland rallied to win eight of their last 11 games and finish eighth.
Making the top eight after starting 5-8 is more common, with Brisbane in 2019 and Newcastle and Gold Coast in 2021 the most recent teams to achieve that feat.
But Ciraldo has stopped short of telling his players it will be do-or-die against the 15th-placed Eels.
"I don't think telling them it's 'must-win' is going to help them deal with what they're dealing with right now," Ciraldo said.
"Us sticking to our process and competing as hard as we possibly can and doing it together, that's what we need to focus on".
Asked about his refereeing critique from last week's post-match press conference, Ciraldo said it was easy to have an "us vs. them" mentality given the disappointing form of the pre-season premiership hopefuls.
He felt that attitude could be a good thing.
"Sometimes that's when the Bulldogs are at their best, when it's us against the world. Maybe that's how we have to treat it," Ciraldo said.
"The Bulldogs have been their best over decades and decades when our backs are against the wall. That's where we're at right now."
11°C