Braith Anasta could make a shock appearance in Sunday's NRL semi-final against Melbourne, with the Bulldogs five-eighth winning his battle to overcome a sternum injury.

Coach Steve Folkes said Anasta had trained strongly, without doing any contact work, and he was increasingly confident the No.6 would line-up against the Storm.

"He's reasonably upbeat about it so we'll see," said Folkes.

"At the start of the week I didn't give him any chance at all but I certainly give him a fair chance now."

The former NSW pivot suffered the injury during the `Dogs 30-22 loss to North Queensland in last weekend's qualifying final.

Earlier this week Folkes and Anasta had all but given up hope of the 22-year-old being fit for the Aussie Stadium clash.

"He's not flying but he's optimistic he will play," `Dogs skipper Steve Price said.

"It's a case of leaving it up to him. I haven't been told he's been ruled out, I haven't been told he's definitely in.

"He said there's nowhere near as much pain as there was."

It augurs well for the Bulldogs, who will have Price on board after the Queensland Origin prop was found not guilty of a striking charge at the NRL judiciary.

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