Off-contract Canterbury captain Michael Ennis says he wants to play out his career at Belmore.
The 29-year-old's current contract with the Bulldogs finishes at the conclusion of this season and the representative hooker says he would like to re-sign a long-term deal that will keep him at the club until the end of his playing days.
Ennis is keen to put pen to paper on a deal that make take him into retirement but he knows he will have to earn it.
"I would love to stay (at Canterbury). It is a really great club," Ennis told AAP.
"Fingers crossed that will look after itself but at the end of the day if I'm playing good football then I know that will make it a lot easier to get that deal done.
"I know what I have to do. I have to start the season well and all of my preparation is for that.
"It is an important time in my career.
"I'm looking to play some good footy during the year and it is a big year for me being off contract.
"We are having some conversations about a new deal and I'm hopeful that will result in something all parties can agree on.
"I love it at the Dogs and really would like to stay."
The Bulldogs finished last year in disappointing fashion with a first week finals loss to Newcastle after their grand final appearance of the year before.
It is something Ennis said he was personally keen to atone for.
"I'm 29 now but I feel great. As tough as the pre-season was physically I feel really good," he said.
"Everything we have done in the pre-season has been done with a real intensity and I think that will be a good thing for the season ahead."
