Canterbury are facing a significant player shortage after Jake Averillo, Ava Seumanufagai and Brent Naden tested positive to COVID-19.
In a massive dent to the Bulldogs' hopes against Brisbane, at least four players tested positive on Wednesday morning - 24 hours before the squad's flight north.
The cases prompted Canterbury to seek a special exemption from the NRL to bring extra players from outside their 24-man squad, fearing they won't meet touring requirements.
The group's absences hit the Bulldogs at the worst possible time, in the midst of a five-match losing streak and having already battled to name a 24-man squad on Tuesday.
Highlighting their dramas, the Bulldogs have lost four backline players through injury and COVID-19 in the past five days.
With Braidon Burns injured, Averillo and Naden had been named to line up at centre and on the wing respectively.
However they are now both out, along with the injured Corey Allan and back-up option Reece Hoffman who also tested positive to the virus on Wednesday.
It's means Jayden Okunbor is expected make a return to the 17, with uncapped rookie Jacob Kiraz the best option to fill another jersey.
Seumanufagai, meanwhile, was only listed on the bench, but of greater concern to the Bulldogs will be the fact they have no big men listed in their reserves.
Jackson Topine could therefore loom as the best option, unless an uncapped player from their reserve grade Mounties side earns a call up.
"COVID and injury issues @NRL_Bulldogs this morning," Canterbury's general manager of football Phil Gould tweeted.
"Players have been sent for PCR tests to confirm RAT results.
"We will be applying to NRL for exemptions to fill our player quotas for this trip to Brisbane."
Gould himself has recently recovered from the virus.
Under NRL rules, clubs can only play members of the 24-man squad named each Tuesday in their 17 for the following weekend.
However, in the case of shortages through injury or illness, an application can be made to the NRL to replace players.
Clubs are already travelling with larger groups this year in a bid to avoid being left short on numbers due to coronavirus.
