In-form Canterbury prop Aiden Tolman admits it's nice to be noticed as the talk turns to representative football, but the NSW hopeful is not getting ahead of himself.

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore rates Tolman as the NRL's form front-rower, while his name has made virtually every list of potential Blues State of Origin candidates.

Tolman has averaged 164 running metres per game so far in 2011, which made him the second best in the competition behind NSW certainty Paul Gallen heading into round five.

He will lead a Bulldogs pack desperately seeking to make amends for last week's uncharacteristic domination by Melbourne in Sunday's blockbuster against St George Illawarra at the SCG.

"I suppose I'm getting noticed out there and the things I'm doing well that I've got to keep improving on," former Storm prop Tolman said.

"There's plenty of positives you can take out of it but I'm not looking into that at this stage.

"I'm just wanting to perform well for the Dogs, it's only early in the season yet so we'll just see what happens."

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore is pretty sure he knows what will happen when new Blues boss Ricky Stuart unveils his side for Origin I.

"I think he's headed down that path," Moore said.

"He's been outstanding, he's been probably the pick of our forwards week-in week-out.

"His game never changes, he gives you the same thing week-in week-out.

"There's some areas that he wants to improve in and we want him to improve in as well but I think he's certainly been one of the form front-rowers of the competition."

The 22-year-old was left disappointed by his return to Melbourne on Monday night and knows the Bulldogs pack will need to lift against the premiers in the heritage round showdown.

"We got dominated in the forwards against Melbourne and we were pretty disappointed in that," he said.

"We've got to come out and try and win that ruck and hopefully the backs can score some points."

The Dragons have won the past four games between the neighbouring clubs, who played grand finals at the iconic venue in 1979 and 1985 for one victory apiece.

Moore said Wayne Bennett's side were an even stronger outfit than the one which won the premiership last year with centre Mark Gasnier's improvement after a full off-season.

"They're probably a more complete team now and I think they're probably playing with some confidence," Moore said.

"The fact that they got through and won that premiership last year, I think they've probably taken it to another level and I think their attack has really improved."

The Dogs and Dragons have not met at the SCG since the merger between St George and Illawarra.

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