Let's start with the numbers around Canterbury's recent revival, because there's a lot of them and they tell quite a story.

Right now, the Bulldogs are sixth on the NRL ladder, which might seem modest for some but it's the highest the club has finished a round in eight years.

That's also how long it's been since they made the finals, which is second only to the Tigers when it comes to longest current absence from top-eight football.

Since then, they've never finished higher than 11th and collected a wooden spoon as the club sunk to its lowest ebb in decades.

There was a time when such struggles would be unthinkable for Canterbury. The only other time in their 90-year history they've spent so long outside the finals was from 1948 to 1959.

So much time in the wilderness is more Berries than Bulldogs because ever since the club adopted the latter as their mascot in the late 1970's they've been, until recently, a consistent powerhouse.

Premiership contention might still be a bit away for Cameron Ciraldo's side but to bring us right back to the beginning, the signs are starting to look more than promising.

State of Origin can suck the life out of the club competition but if Canterbury can upset the Roosters in Gosford on Saturday, they'll be living it up in a big way.

With captain Stephen Crichton on Blues duty and star trio Viliame Kikau, Josh Addo-Carr and Jacob Preston missing due to injury they'll be the underdogs, but their form line is strong.

The Bulldogs have won six of their last eight games, including the last three in a row, which was capped by an against-the-odds victory over Parramatta on the King's Birthday Holiday.

"It's just what we've been doing this year. Whatever adversity comes our way, we're walking towards it," said star outside back Jacob Kiraz.

"Last year was the first year Cirro came and we were all learning the system, which was a bit hard but this year we have it all under our belts.

"The recruits have been amazing, they're so professional and they're all winners.

"Everyone in the place wants to win and when everyone is chasing the same goal, you get performances like that."

Kiraz only made his NRL debut two years ago but with the roster overhaul at the Bulldogs in recent years he's remarkably become one of the club's longest-serving players.

Much was made over the summer of the club's personnel changes in recent years — only one player, Chris Patolo, remains from the squad that claimed the wooden spoon in 2021.

But the new men at Belmore have managed to find something together in a short space of time this year.

Much has been made of Crichton's leadership at centre, with Kiraz crediting his skipper with adding more versatility and variety to his game, and confidence around the squad is beginning to bloom.

With seven wins under their belt, they've already matched their total from last season and while there's still much to be done, the Bulldogs are beginning to aim a little higher.

"It's good to win because it's been a tough couple of years," Kiraz said.

"We know we're going to go out there and play our game, we know how we play, we know the boys we have, we know we're not going to get rolled over by teams anymore.

"That's who we are. It's a good feeling at the moment, but we know where we can go and this is just the start."

Depending on other results, downing the Roosters could have the Bulldogs finish the round inside the top four and then the finals dreams will really take on a new life.

That won't be easy. Even without their three Origin players, the Tricolours still boast one of the strongest squads in the league and have been in blistering attacking form of late.

But the Bulldogs think they've found something, something that has been a part of the club for many years but maybe got lost for a little while.