Tyson Frizell will take his place in the St George Illawarra line-up against Canterbury on Monday after recovering from a rib injury.
The NSW Origin lock completed his second limited-contact training run with the Dragons on Friday and finished the session without issue.
The news comes just six days after he was taken to hospital during the Dragons' 16-12 win over the Wests Tigers, with fears of a rib fracture.
Scans on Monday cleared him of any serious injury, but Dragons medical staff said he would still be monitored during the week before a call was made on his fitness closer to game day.
However it's now understood the 25-year-old will be a certain starter at ANZ Stadium against a fired-up Bulldogs pack.
"We're going to need him," Dragons prop Russell Packer said.
"He is a world-class player and we need him healthy if that's the case."
The Dragons are wary of a motivated Bulldogs side desperate to bounce back from last Sunday's embarrassing 38-0 defeat to Penrith.
The last time Canterbury were beaten to nil - against Manly in round four - they won their next three straight to quell questions over coach Des Hasler's future.
Questions have been raised about the team's attacking structure, while captain James Graham has had to defend the mood in the club after concerns were raised by former players in the media.
But Packer said the Dragons also had their own point to prove following Saturday's lacklustre win over the Tigers.
The Saints completed at 67 per cent and missed 33 tackles in the win - their worst figures in each category for this season.
"We've got a bit of a motivating factor ourselves," Packer said.
"We didn't particularly put our best performance in against the Wests Tigers.
"As a playing group we weren't happy that we didn't meet the standards that we've set in the previous 11 games prior to that."
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