RUGBY LEAGUE
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It was a policy that raised eyebrows, and drew ridicule in some quarters, but the Dragons' focus on building depth in their roster could pay big dividends against the Cowboys on Saturday night.
The Dragons will take to WIN Stadium with eight regular first graders unavailable, including their entire back row.
In their place will be a starting forward pack, including skipper Ben Creagh, who all began the year with uncertain futures beyond 2015.
They've all since earned contracts for 2016 and will be looking to repay the faith against the Cowboys.
Coach Paul McGregor took a near 30-man top squad into pre-season last year in preparation for the exact scenario facing his side and is confident the 17 who take the field on Saturday can do the job.
"It has been a bit of a juggling act this week to get the right side out there but whoever we do put out there, we're going to compete hard and do our best," McGregor said.
"That's something that Peter [Mulholland] and Ben [Haran] are working really hard on, that we've got a really good, strong second tier.
"It's important to your roster.
"You never think you'd have that many out at once but, if it does happen, you've got to be strong in that second tier.
"We'll make sure that we only get stronger in that department.
"It's one of the really strong pushes I'm having with those two guys, that our second tier has got to be stronger than other clubs so we can really rely on that.
"It'll be tested [this week] but it's an opportunity and the blokes that go out there won't let anyone down."
The Cowboys will also be without some big guns including regular halves Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan, who are on Origin duty, and Test front-rowers Matt Scott and James Tamou.
Their absence will inevitably affect the Cowboys' game but McGregor said they'd still ask plenty of his side's defence.
"I think you won't see too much different from their yardage," McGregor said.
"Obviously JT plays on the ball a fair bit so you'll see different guys come into their game.
"They've got two experienced guys coming in in Robert Lui and [Ray] Thompson. They're two guys that have played a lot of first grade.
"They lose their two big minute men [Scott and Tamou] upfront but they played without them against the Tigers and won 8-0 and defended their way to that victory.
"In good ball [Lachlan] Coote's a big indicator of where the ball's going and their nine [Jake Granville] is a big danger.
"He's elusive out of dummy-half and challenges you down those tram lines, so we'll have to do a good job on him.
"They're a very capable side, they're sitting up near the top of the table.
"Their depth is pretty stable and has been for a number of years so it'll be a challenge, but a challenge we want to have.