Dragons coach Wayne Bennett will unleash his full-strength line-up in a 40-minute blitz against the Bulldogs in Saturday night's Mercury Challenge at WIN Stadium.
Bennett has decided to split the squad into two teams, using a team packed with NRL experience in the first half, before trialling a number of fringe players and recruits after the break.
In total, St George Illawarra will use 31 players in the clash, with captain Ben Hornby leading a team that will wear the red away jersey that also features Australian representative winger Brett Morris and NSW State of Origin prop Michael Weyman.
Full coverage of the Dragons In the second half, the Dragons will wear the Red V jersey, with Souths recruit Michael Greenfield, Wests Tigers signing Peni Tagive and fullback Bronx Goodwin leading the charge.
In contrast, Canterbury named an 18-man squad for Saturday night's game.
But in a boost for the preseason battle, the Dogs will bring a virtually full-strength team.
Former Dragons prop Mickey Paea will come off the bench, with Ben Hannant, Brett Kimmorley, Luke Patten and Josh Morris all included in the line-up.
It will be the Bulldogs first trial in the build-up to their first NRL clash against Newcastle on March 13.
The Dogs and Dragons will clash again in Wollongong on Friday, March 19.
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