Knights juniors rebuilding Bulldogs spine

With Kieran Foran out injured and Will Hopoate playing in the centres, the Bulldogs' spine had just 65 games between them when they took on Melbourne on Sunday - the least of any Canterbury side since 1992.

That situation appears unlikely to change, with Foran not due back from an ankle injury until July - leaving Nick Meaney, Jack Cogger, Lachlan Lewis and Jeremy Marshall-King in the key positions.

But with combinations and match time together so rare between the group, Foran's replacement in Cogger has at least added some familiarity for young fullback Meaney.

"It's definitely a challenge when we're all pretty young," Meaney said

"I'm fortunate in that I have played with Jack Cogger at the Knights before. Our connection is pretty strong there. It's just a challenge and we are ready to take it on.

"It's massive we played a couple of years in under-20s and built those combinations.

"When he got the call up this week (against Melbourne) I felt more comfortable having him out there on the paddock and I knew he could do the job."

Meaney and Cogger are close both on and off the field, both heading down from the Knights over the off-season.

They're also living close by each other in Sydney's west, adapting to life in the city together after playing together in the NRL for the first time in round 25 last year.

Meanwhile Michael Lichaa hasn't given up hope of reclaiming his starting spot at hooker from Marshall-King.

In the final year of his contract, Lichaa hasn't started since the Bulldogs' flogging at the hands of the Warriors in round one.

"I'd obviously rather start but at the end of the day I'm just happy to be in the team," Lichaa said.

"I've just got to keep working. Deano (coach Dean Pay) said to practice my defence. I always thought it was one of my stronger points, my D.

"But obviously there are a few things I've got to work on and just keep practising that."

Australian Associated Press