Penrith are still reeling after last week's loss to Canberra in brutal heat but, even in the face of a taxing five-day turnaround, the Panthers are promising they won't melt.
Coach Anthony Griffin bristled at the thought of his troops making excuses heading into Thursday's historic clash with Canterbury, marking the club's 50th anniversary, but even he concedes they've been knocked around in the past week.
Forced to play in brutal 35-degree heat in the side's opening-round 30-22 loss to the Raiders in the nation's capital, the toll wrought on the Panthers threatens to carry over into this week.
Griffin was forced to give his troops an extra day's rest, throwing out his preparation that was already not ideal given the short gap between games.
Playmaker Jamie Soward said he walked off GIO Stadium having lost 3kgs and complained the sides weren't given a drinks break, despite the opportunity being offered to both clubs who refused.
But according to Griffin, the one-time chocolate soldiers - as they were known in their formative years because of their distinctive brown jerseys - would not give up despite the trying circumstances leading up to the Dogs clash.
"We've done everything we can in rehab and recovery," Griffin said.
"It was a very hot day last week and it was taxing physically. You've only got to look at how Canberra have come out of it as well - they've lost two or three players.
"It's just a really brutal affair and that's going to take something out of us. We've done what we can with rehab and rest but the boys have trained well today.
"We've just got to not look for excuses and play the conditions tomorrow night."
For both sides, so much of their fates will come down to how they handle the loss of their first-choice hookers.
With James Segeyaro out for up to two months with a broken arm, back-rower Tyrone Peachey has been shifted to No.9 and Griffin says he expects him to play 90 minutes.
While for Des Hasler's Bulldogs, Craig Garvey will deputise for Michael Lichaa who has a potentially season-ending knee injury, suffered against Manly.
"They all know each other; they've been training together for four or five months; those combinations are well and truly formed," Hasler said when pressed on how he expected Garvey to gel with his teammates.
"Craig's an experienced player, he's worked really well and he'll do a good job on Thursday night."
STATS THAT MATTER:
* These two sides met in Penrith's first match in 1967 with the Bulldogs coming out on top 15-12
* Bulldogs centre Josh Morris scored his 100th career try last week, joining his brother Brett in the illustrious club, making them the only siblings to have both scored 100-plus career tries
* At home, the Panthers have won six of their past eight matches against the Bulldogs since 2007
Source: Fox Sports Stats.
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