Canterbury will turn to plans B, C and D in their search for veteran Brett Kimmorley's successor after missing out on Daniel Mortimer.

Kimmorley, who will turn 34 this year, enjoyed a vintage year in 2009 but he and the NRL club are undecided about his future once his contract expires at the end of this year.

Kimmorley has said he hopes to play on for several more years, while the club will begin speaking with him about his form and physical condition after a couple of months of football.

Star-on-the-rise Mortimer would have been the ideal understudy until he opted to stay with Parramatta on Monday.

The Bulldogs have five-eighth Ben Roberts contracted until the end of 2011 and youngster Ben Barba, who was named on the bench for Saturday's round one clash with Newcastle, signed until the end of this year.

"From a retention point of view, we always have a plan A, B, C and D," coach Kevin Moore said on Monday.

"I think back to last year and we had a plan A with a front-rower, we didn't get that and we ended up with plan B which was (Test prop) Ben Hannant.

"We obviously have some plans but we'll do that behind closed doors."

One potential target, St George Illawarra's Jamie Soward, was taken off the market on Monday when he signed a three-year contract extension with the Dragons.

Another could be North Queensland superstar Johnathan Thurston, who previously played with the Bulldogs between 2002-04 and is weighing up several offers, reportedly including some from overseas rugby union clubs.

His manager Sam Ayoub refused to disclose whether he would now be speaking with the Bulldogs.

Other halves off-contract include Parramatta's Kris Keating, Dragons captain Ben Hornby, Cronulla veteran Trent Barrett, Newcastle's Scott Dureau and North Queensland's Grant Rovelli.

Manly young gun Kieran Foran is also off-contract but has agreed to a four-year extension with the Sea Eagles.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs named Bryson Goodwin for Saturday's NRL opening round clash with Newcastle, despite the winger still wearing a protective moon boot.

Goodwin has a toe injury but Bulldogs medical staff are confident the New Zealand international, who scored 20 tries in a breakthrough 2009 season, will be able to take his place at ANZ Stadium.

"He's still in some doubt, he didn't run today, he'll train with the team on Wednesday so, dependent on how he gets through that session, we'll decide whether he plays or not," Moore said.

As well as competition points, the Bulldogs and Knights will compete for the beyondblue Cup for the first time as they aim to raise awareness of depression, anxiety and related drug and alcohol problems.

Canterbury: Luke Patten, Steve Turner, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts, Brett Kimmorley, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Michael Hodgson, Yileen Gordon, Andrew Ryan, David Stagg. Interchange: Mickey Paea, Gary Warburton, Jarrad Hickey, Ben Barba.

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