Celebrating a club membership record and sell-out matches, the Storm are expecting Canterbury players to respond to their coach's stinging criticism as they attempt to spoil the party in their crunch battle in Melbourne.
The Storm announced this week their biggest tally in the club's 27-year history, signing up 40,237 members, while they are headed for their third full house of the season at AAMI Park on Friday night - also a new mark.
While Melbourne are flying high after stopping in-form Penrith's run last round for their fourth straight win, the Bulldogs are spluttering, losing two of their past four.
First on the ladder for 13 consecutive weeks earlier in the year, Canterbury need a win over the Storm to keep alive their hopes of a top-two ladder finish.
Following last week's lacklustre loss to the Sydney Roosters, coach Cameron Ciraldo put the Bulldogs on notice that anyone unable or unwilling to prepare properly risked being dropped.
He was pleased with the response this week.
"Training has gone up a notch, the intensity definitely was a bit higher on Monday and the boys have continued that throughout the week. It's been a good reaction," Ciraldo said.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy expected the visitors to bring their best in the high-stakes clash.
"The Bulldogs were testing everyone and probably the last couple of weeks they probably haven't been where they were early in the season, but we expect them to come back on Friday night so we've got to make sure we're ready to go for a real tough game," Bellamy said.
"It's a pretty big game - two teams (from) the top four - and at this time of year we all want to be playing the best we can.
"We know that they're going to come down here and add a bit of physicalness to their game."
Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to resume at fullback after missing the Panthers match through concussion, which will see Cameron Munster return to his usual play-making duties.
Injured halfback Jahrome Hughes remains pencilled in for a return in their final round clash against Brisbane.
Bellamy was impressed with the resilience shown by his players in the week-to-week backline shuffle, with Jonah Pezet and Tyran Wishart the latest halves combination.
"Losing halfbacks are usually a pretty tough thing but we seem to have got through that OK and we've gone through it a few different ways too,' he said.
"We've sort of managed our way through that and at the same time it gives those players a bit more experience in those positions."
The Bulldogs hope to have Marcelo Montoya back from a neck injury, with Enari Tuala the likely man to drop out if the winger is passed fit for his first game since round 18.
"'Marce' is looking good, he's trained really well all week," Ciraldo said.
"It'd be nice to have him back."
