Johnathan Thurston entered the rep round battling a calf injury and came out of it with a shoulder injury which leaves the Cowboys in a tight situation as the top eight of the NRL ladder starts to take shape.

They travel south this week take on the Bulldogs who produced a gritty victory over the Raiders in their last start.

They will be without Josh Reynolds but Matt Frawley is more than capable to step up in his absence.

The Dogs have won five of their past six games at home and when you couple that with the fact that the Cowboys have lost three of their last four without JT, it doesn't look good for the 2015 premiers.

The Cowboys have named Lachlan Coote and Jake Granville in their side as both return from injury but the lack of a future immortal looks set to cripple the NRL's northern-most side.

Bulldogs by 10.