Balmain great Benny Elias has warned the Wests Tigers not to toss away their NRL season by underestimating a Bulldogs side stumbling from one disaster to the next.

The Tigers' finals hopes go on the line on Sunday when the co-tenants meet at ANZ Stadium, the joint-venture club on the brink of missing the top eight for the third time in as many seasons following their 2005 premiership triumph.

What was meant to be a season of celebration has turned out to be one big disaster for the Bulldogs - coach sackings, player brawls and the most famous player walkout ever witnessed in the game leaving the blue and whites desperately hoping for 2008 to come to an end.

But with only the battle of the wooden spoon still to play for, Elias claims the Bulldogs are a dangerous commodity.

"You don't know what to expect, they're a wildcard," Elias said.

"Who knows what's happening with them.

"Last week I thought they'd rise above their norm and play out of their skin and they got walloped.

"There's always going to be an excuse for them, their season's finished, but they can certainly make life difficult for everyone else.

"They're a dangerous side to be going up against."

After looking like they'd turned the corner with a win against South Sydney a fortnight ago, the Tigers made life hard for themselves by going down to Penrith last weekend.

Coach Tim Sheens admitted the loss was a nail in the coffin for the finals hopes, with the club now needing to win at least four of their remaining six games.

"They're almost in neutral," Elias said of the Tigers.

"They're not in overdrive but they're not going backwards. Manly are on fire, Melbourne are on fire and we're just basically also-rans at the moment.

"Tomorrow (Sunday) it's make or break for the season."

The return of Todd Payten from a long injury layoff should add some starch to the Tigers pack, while the Bulldogs problems only got worse on Saturday with prop Jarrad Hickey ruled out with rib damage.

Fred Briggs will come off a five-man bench and into the starting side while Brad Morrin passed a fitness test on his injured shoulder and will play.

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