No matter the result of Origin II, Bulldogs playmakers Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson will return to the NRL against Canberra extra pumped up, warns skipper Terry Campese.
The on-song NSW and Bulldogs halves combo are on the cusp of helping to break the Maroons' eight-year stranglehold over the State of Origin trophy.
Yet even if NSW lose game two on Wednesday night, Campese says Reynolds and Hodkinson will be a handful at Canberra Stadium on Friday.
"Win or lose, they'll come back fired up," Campese said.
"They're probably the two form halves of the competition, and they definitely drive that Bulldogs side."
Campese, who played one game for NSW in 2009, said the experience gained from representative footy gave players a boost when returning to the NRL.
"You're playing in the biggest arena rugby league has to offer," he said.
"You come back pumped up and excited and that's what those guys will do."
The Bulldogs have lost their last three starts, which Campese partially put down to their squad inconsistency around Origin.
And while he's expecting Reynolds and Hodkinson to fire, he said one factor that will work against them is the short turnaround.
The NSW duo not only have just a two-day recovery window, but the rest of the Bulldogs team played on Sunday.
On the otherhand the Raiders are coming off a bye.
"We've got our bodies right," Campese said.
"So if there is a time to get them, it's probably Friday."
With the Raiders winning just four games from 13 starts Campese said it was crunch time for his side.
"We've got to win the next four to get back on track to be looking to make the top eight," he said.
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