Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley is rated only a 50-50 chance of overcoming a badly corked thigh to play in Sunday's NRL showdown with Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Kimmorley hasn't trained this week and has received intensive physiotherapy on the injury, which club officials had initially expected to sideline the in-form playmaker for 3-4 weeks.

With the Bulldogs having a bye next weekend, Kimmorley could even be rested until the round 14 blockbuster against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

"I think it's fair enough to say he's 50-50," Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten told AAP on Thursday.

"I know he's working hard to get on top of his injury but I think the situation with us having a bye after this week might go against him, they might not make it this week and then have another week off.

"That's something we've planned for and if that happens Daniel Holdsworth will step up."

Holdsworth did just that last Saturday night, guiding the table-topping Dogs to an impressive win over Melbourne in Gosford after Kimmorley went down early in the match.

The former regular first grade five-eighth has trained at halfback this week after spending most of the early rounds in the NSW Cup.

"We had a hard year last year," Holdsworth told AAP.

"It probably dented my confidence a bit playing in a team that wasn't going so well and you don't go well yourself, but when the team's flying and everyone's confident then it's pretty easy."

Holdsworth is one of a host of Bulldogs off-contract at the end of the season and, with current No.6 Ben Roberts expected to re-sign with the club, he is unsure about his future.

"I haven't really spoken to anyone yet so I'll just see what happens over the next couple of months," Holdsworth said.

"You've got to be playing first grade to get another good deal so I just want to stay in the 17, that's my goal at the present."

The Bulldogs announced on Thursday the re-signing of forwards Chris Armit and Gary Warburton to new two-year deals.

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