Canterbury star Jamal Idris will make his return from a club-imposed suspension on Friday night knowing some of the fun has been taken out of his footy.

Idris paid the price for a late return from a trip to the Gold Coast during the Bulldogs' bye weekend, sitting through the horror show of last Sunday's 26-10 loss to Cronulla.

He will return in the crucial clash with the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium with the realisation that, in NRL years, he needs to be that bit older than his tender age of 20.

"It sort of makes you think maybe I try to have too much fun with football," he told reporters on Thursday.

"Even though it is a game, it's meant to be fun, maybe I took that a bit too far.

"I've got to realise as well it is a business."

Business meant Idris signing a five-year deal with Gold Coast in April, just one case that has elders of the game like Wayne Bennett calling for a transfer window.

Despite it being a trip to Titans territory which caused the giant centre his recent problem, Idris is adamant the early decision to link with a rival NRL club hasn't made it harder to stay committed to the Dogs.

"It's not about where you're going the year after, it's about what you're doing this year and what you're doing next week or this week," he said.

"These are my mates. At the end of the day I'm going to go out and play as hard as I can for them."

In fact, Idris is desperate to pay them back and that could be a timely boost for the struggling Dogs, who have lost five of their past six to sit outside the top eight on points differential.

"At the end of the day I let them down so this week is more for them," he said.

"I missed a game (playing) with the boys so I think that's my punishment there, so hopefully I can just make it up to them this week."

The Test incumbent, who has been overlooked by NSW coach Ricky Stuart so far for the State of Origin series, will join returning hooker Michael Ennis (infected ear) and halfback Trent Hodkinson (suspension) in bolstering Canterbury.

They come up against an equally desperate Tigers side sitting with them on 16 points but missing playmaking superstar Benji Marshall with a knee injury.

With plenty of talk about Canterbury coach Kevin Moore's future beyond 2011, the Bulldogs boss is backing himself.

"I've got plenty of confidence in myself," Moore said.

"I've been around this game for a long time and been around this club for a long time.

"We've had ups and downs. I think one thing this club has always shown is that when times are tough you stick together and you come out the other end.

"I think my experiences over the many years I've been here is an advantage to everyone else in this playing group.

"I think we know how to put our heads down and put all the other stuff out of your mind and stay focused on the job.

"The feeling around the place is very much different I think to what is being portrayed out there and that's all I can control."

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