After a slow start to the season, the Dragons have won four-straight matches, with the winning streak built on the back of a punishing, and resilient, defence.

The Roosters, however, boast attacking threats all across the park, from James Tedesco to Latrell Mitchell, Cooper Cronk and Victor Radley and McGregor knows his team's defence will be challenged in the Anzac Day clash.

"It's certainly a special day and a real privilege to go out and show respect and remember those who have served, are serving or fallen in the past," McGregor said.

"We know the opposition, they're the premiers and they're on top of the table. We've played some really good defensive footy in the last month, so we need to make sure we're really good with that, playing a talented football team that are playing some good footy.

"For us, we're just concentrating on what we need to do, improving a few areas from last week and continue on what we've done in the last month defensively and really go after it tomorrow."

While both sides head into the match in impressive form and the Roosters sit second on the ladder, the Dragons are the more settled of the two teams.

McGregor has named the same team for three-straight weeks, while the Roosters have made seven changes to the side that survived a golden-point thriller in Melbourne last week.

A Luke Keary concussion has seen Mitchell move to five-eighth, while the premiers have welcomed back Joseph Manu from suspension and Jake Friend and Siosiua Taukeiaho from injury.

The rejigged attacking lineup poses St George Illawarra with a fresh challenge, however McGregor is confident his men will be up to the task.

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"We're still missing three good ones, but the stability we've had the last couple of weeks, we've named the same 17, it's important. When you're winning games, it's important to hold the balance together.

"Latrell's a big body, very balanced runner who gains momentum after contact and shows a bully attitude in his defence. It's a challenge, but it's one that when you play against good players, you look forward to as a player.

"Jake's a genuine nine, where Victor is more of a 13. He was doing a really good job, but Jake, he's their leader. He's a busy player, he does a lot of work around the ruck defensively, does a lot of tidy up work and he's a threat."

The biggest game of the NRL regular season, the Anzac Day match is typically a close, hard-fought affair and McGregor is expecting that trend to continue on Thursday.

Given his side has won three of their past four games by a combined four points, McGregor has faith St George Illawarra will handle the pressure of a tight, emotion-filled contest.

"Three of the last four years, it's been won by two points or less. That indicates the rivalry there and the occasion and I don't think tomorrow will by any different.

"It will be a hard-fought contest, dominated through the middle third of the field and finished off by your main ball-players and your skillful backs."

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