Will "The Mad Scientist", as Manly coach Des Hasler is known, show any mercy to his former club which he took to two grand finals in five years?
The quick answer is "no" since he has no intention of stopping the freight train that the Sea Eagles have now become as they railroad themselves up the NRL ladder – from 15th spot to sixth in 10 weeks.
The coaching merry-go-round finds Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett up against his old club for the first time as head coach – he spent three years at Brookvale before Hasler returned for his second stint.
Barrett had a win two weeks ago against the club he played 154 games with – St George Illawarra – and will be trying hard for another sentimental victory.
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The rundown
Team news
Bulldogs: The Bulldogs will line up 1-17 with no late changes.
Corey Allan (shoulder) returns on the wing for his first game since round nine and is part of a new-look backline which also features debutant Falakiko Manu in the centres and Kyle Flanagan at five-eighth.
With Adam Elliott sidelined by a cheekbone injury, Jackson Topine comes into the side.
Dylan Napa, Brandon Wakeham, Aaron Schoupp, Corey Waddell and Sione Katoa's immediate futures are under a cloud after they breached biosecurity protocols by visiting a pub in Eastern Sydney on the weekend.
Joe Stimson also gets a recall on the bench alongside two more debutants in Bailey Biondi-Odo and Christopher Patolo.
Ofahiki Ogden and Watson Heleta were omitted from the squad on Friday. Renouf Atoni was the last man cut on game day and Lachlan Lewis is 18th man.
Jake Averillo has scored four tries in his past three games at Stadium Australia.
Sea Eagles: Winning form is good form and Des Hasler has the luxury of naming the same 17 that produced a devastating second-half display against the Titans. No late changes on game day with Cade Cust the last man cut and Moses Suli 18th man.
Origin stars Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans will play but Tom's brother Jake remains sidelined with a glute injury.
Jack Gosiewski and Tevita Funa were dropped when the squad was trimmed to 19 players 24 hours out from kick-off.
The Sea Eagles have won five of their past six games against the Bulldogs.
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Key match-up
Nick Meaney v Reuben Garrick: The Bulldogs have lost two fullbacks in the past week after Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (to the Warriors mid-season) and Nick Meaney signed with other clubs, but at least Meaney doesn’t move to the Storm until 2022.
He’s scored four tries in 10 games this year and is deceptively fast, which will test the reflexes and reaction times of Reuben Garrick who is likely to be filling in again for Tom Trbojevic.
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Stat attack
The Bulldogs stand proudly at the head of the NRL in set completions with 81 per cent - pipping both the Storm and the Panthers (80%). They also lie equal fourth for intercepts (6) behind the Rabbitohs (8), Sea Eagles and Roosters (7).
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