After the match against the Bulldogs, the Dragons are at home to North Queensland next Friday night. They then make the trip south to Melbourne, return home to face Wayne Bennett's old club Brisbane, then fly to the Sunshine State for their round-six clash with the Titans.

The dream run under Wayne Bennett came to a sudden halt at the back end of last season, but Hornby insists the Dragons won't be running out of steam come September.

"I think if you start the year with some tough rounds and you get through it unscathed then you're off to a good start," Hornby said.

"The timing of when you're playing your best footy is something I think all sides look at."

Last year the Dragons looked destined to cement their first grand final berth since 1999, but a horror end to the season saw the Dragons lose five out of their last six games to become the first minor premiers to bow out of the competition on the back of consecutive semi-final losses.

In the last five rounds of this season, the Dragons are again likely to face off against lower ranked teams in the lead-up to September, ending the year with games against the Roosters, Sea Eagles, Raiders, Knights and Rabbitohs.

Despite struggling to overcome the less-fancied sides at the back end of last year, including Canberra and South Sydney, the Dragons' end of year form is the last thing on Hornby's mind.

"All that's on our minds is Canterbury this week," he said.