Josh Dugan will be a dangerous force in St George Illawarra's season-defining clash with Canterbury, Dragons coach Paul McGregor has warned.
Just a week after he dropped the NSW State of Origin star for missing the team bus, McGregor insisted the incident had been forgotten and the team had moved on from the matter.
But in the lead up to Sunday's match, which the Dragons must win to make the NRL finals, McGregor said the centre had been particularly driven.
"He is real focused and determined," McGregor said.
"And that is dangerous to the opposition."
McGregor reaffirmed his position that a line had to be drawn in the sand at the club, after senior player Jason Nightingale revealed earlier this week tardiness had become a club issue in the latter-half of the season.
"Going into finals footy, the most disciplined sides win close games of footy and right now our discipline needs to be at its best," McGregor said.
"It was game day and someone overstepped the mark so he was stood down."
The Dragons coach is adamant his side deserve to be playing in these finals - and the equation for Sunday's game couldn't be any clearer.
A win will put them in the finals, while a loss means their high-flying start to the season goes to waste.
The Dragons' for-and-against of +89 is the third highest in the competition - and better than any side that has missed the playoffs in the 2000s.
"Our for-and-against is exceptional," McGregor said.
"It shows where we have improved as a football team. But we've lost some games that we needed to win.
"But we're still where we need to be. The key to finals footy is in our hands, we just need to go out there and win. We're ready to do that."
In their way though stands a Bulldogs side that they have beaten just once in their past 11 attempts.
They're also wary of a Canterbury side determined to send Josh Reynolds and Sam Kasiano out winners in their final games for the club.
McGregor said only so much could be read into prior form.
"Obviously as a coach and as players you look at different formats defensively on why they have shut you down in the past and you come up with strategies to overcome that," McGregor said.
"But every game different players play and every year is a different squad.
"So tomorrow is different again."
STATS THAT MATTER:
* The Dragons average the most metres, tackles busts and offloads in the competition.
* Canterbury's last two first halves have been their best of the season in attack.
* The Dragons have won 11 of 16 matches at ANZ Stadium this year.
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