Canterbury rugby league greats Terry Lamb and Steve Mortimer say history shows the injury-ravaged Bulldogs can overcome the odds and make the NRL grand final.

The Bulldogs are three points out of the top eight with three regular season rounds left after suffering their worst loss since 1935 last Friday night - a 56-4 thumping at Parramatta.

The defending premiers must win their last three games and rely on other results going their way to ensure they don't miss the finals altogether.

However, Bulldogs legends Lamb and Mortimer have not ruled out the current crop conjuring the spirit of 1979 and 1995 and making a premiership run.

Lamb - who holds the record for first grade games played - skippered the 1995 side that finished sixth in the regular season before going on to claim the premiership.

And Mortimer was part of the 1979 Dogs team that scraped into the then top five finals format and downed Wests, Cronulla and Parramatta before losing the final 17-13 to St George.

Lamb - who played 262 first grade games for the Dogs - said he saw "parallels" with the current team and his 1995 outfit.

"I still believe they can make the finals (this season)," Lamb said.

"If they put their heads together and they get into the eight, no one will stop them."

Lamb said it was time the recently re-signed Willie Mason stood up and "made a statement".

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