Both will travel with Steve Price's 22-man squad to Perth tomorrow in the most encouraging sign they will feature in an impressive forward pack at some stage this season.

Fielding mainly NSW Cup players with a combined total of 146 NRL appearances between them, the Dragons fought out a low-key battle with their rivals at WIN Stadium, with Price and new Bulldogs coach Des Hasler at the helms.

Vea and Matthews received personal endorsements from Price after the match.

"This is a good introduction for our five players from the top side to show their worth tonight," Price said.

"This is a good education for the players and a good chance to go back to the basics and keep working hard.

"From the players we brought back from our top squad, I thought Jack Stockwell for his first hit-out against the big boys was outstanding.

"Overall, we were very pleased with the five guys that have been training with our preseason squad."

Canterbury established a handy 14-6 half-time lead before the Dragons brought the deficit back to two in the final stanza.

But late four-pointers to Sterling Siejka and Dean McGlinchey helped the Dogs extend their advantage in the six-tries-to-three victory.

Despite some impressive attacking flair from Dragons prop David Gower early in the game, Price said he would not join the top-tier squad to play the North Queensland Cowboys in Perth on Saturday.