Replacement Cronulla hooker Fa'amanu Brown will model his hooking game off injured rookie Jayden Brailey in his first match in the No.9 jersey against the Sydney Roosters.
Cronulla confirmed on Thursday that Brailey would miss six to eight weeks with a broken jaw after he underwent surgery on Tuesday night.
Brown, 22, has never started at hooker in his 18-game NRL career, with only a couple of stints at dummy-half as a bench utility to his name since he made his debut in 2014.
However, he has filled in around the ruck at training this season and is hopeful the time spent alongside Brailey will leave him equipped for Saturday's blockbuster.
"I've never been a hooker coming through the system. I've always been a halfback," Brown said.
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"But Jayden has been playing there for a few years in the 20s and he has done an outstanding job there, especially as Holden Cup player of the year.
"I've had to learn off him the two steps and all the hooker's roles."
The Sharks are also without James Segeyaro until at least round 19 due to a broken arm, and they released fellow dummy-halves Daniel Mortimer and Manaia Cherrington in the past month.
But Brown, who has also been playing halfback in reserve grade for Cronulla's feeder side Newtown, was confident his size wouldn't leave him struggling in the middle.
"I've got a bigger frame than the majority of other hookers," Brown said.
"But at the same time it's going to be challenging pushing for further minutes. I think it's a good step for myself."
Brown will exit the Sharks at the end of the season for Canterbury, where it's expected he could spend more time at hooker if former Shark Michael Lichaa is not re-signed.
He said he was unsure whether playing hooker was part of Bulldogs coach Des Hasler's plans for next season but was keen to add another string to his bow.
"I'm just trying to be grateful and succeed in both positions," he said.
