The Newcastle Knights will be without veteran centre Adam MacDougall for Saturday night's Round 1 clash against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium after the former international succumbed to a knee injury.
MacDougall, 34, has had a limited build-up to this season's campaign and failed a fitness test on Saturday morning.
His place in the starting line-up will be taken by versatile back Wes Naiqama.
Newcastle coach Rick Stone said he is losing nothing with Naiqama coming into the squad.
"He gives you plenty of flexibility to play in the backs or the back row and as a goal-kicker, we have got a fair few positions covered with Wes," Stone said.
"He balances up the squad nicely."
Meanwhile, Stone acknowledged that the big Bulldogs pack probably had the edge over the Knights in experience but doubted it would automatically mean the Newcastle side would be broken up in the middle of the park.
"I don't think the pack size is much of an issue," he said. "If you look at our pack, apart from Matt Hilder who is 95 kilos, our pack is all bigger than 100 kilos so I don't think that will be an issue."
"I think the Bulldogs showed last year they were one of the most consistent teams and one of the keys to their attack was Mick Ennis and through the ruck with their big forwards and gradually wearing you down and looking for the opportunity where your markers aren't set or your line is not quite back and they can get the ball to the edges."
"They have got a lot of flight and they weren't up there consistently for nothing and we have got plenty of respect for them but we still fancy our chances against them."
"I think we will still show we have the ability to attack at the right time from all over the field and we have been working on our attack, particularly when we get down the opposition's end."
"We are looking for a few more options in attack and ask a few more questions of the opposition's defence."
"We have put a big emphasis on it over the summer and we are getting close to the finished product and we will put it to the test on Saturday."
Stone also quashed concern that the lack of football from key players in the Knights pack, with former premiership-winning prop Ben Cross yet to play this year, would have a major affect on the outcome of Saturday night's game.
"Steve (Simpson) hasn't played a lot of football and I am not worried about him either," Stone said.
"I would have liked to have seen Crossy (Cross) play some more footy but circumstances didn't allow us that."
"I'd like to think that his experience is going to help him there."
"He has been around for a while and he knows what he has to do and he knows how to prepare himself. He has a month of decent sessions and even though he hasn't played a game I am confident of him doing his job."
Stone also threw his support behind young lock Mark Taufua, who has won a starting position in the pack at lock ahead of the more experienced Zeb Taia.
"Mark has probably been our standout forward in the off-season," Stone said.
"He is looking in great shape and he is really hungry and he is desperate to win a position in the starting pack and the way we play suits Mark - he is quick and he is athletic - he is not so much a ball-playing lock as much as a power-running forward lock and he can do the job in defence as well."