South Sydney will push hard to sign NZ Warriors forward Ali Lauitiiti in the face of a mounting injury toll following its 34-8 loss to the Bulldogs in Monday night's NRL encounter at Aussie Stadium.

Souths haven't beaten the 'Dogs since 1999 and it was always going to be mission impossible without a string of key players, including suspended skipper Bryan Fletcher, Shane Marteene (groin), Paul Stringer (back) and Adam MacDougall (Achilles).

The six-tries-to-two victory - in front of 12,276 people - propelled the Bulldogs to the top of the NRL ladder on 12 points, two ahead of Brisbane, Sydney Roosters and Canberra.

To make matters worse for the luckless Bunnies, second-rower Justin Smith will miss 12 weeks after dislocating his knee cap in the opening minute, Shane Walker (torn quadriceps) is out for four weeks and Jamie Russo (hip) is in doubt for Saturday's clash with Newcastle.

Souths could have another player sidelined next week after interchange forward Mark Leafa was placed on report for an alleged late strike on 'Dogs five-eighth Braith Anasta in the 64th minute.

"Yeah it's pretty hard," a despondent Paul Langmack admitted.

"Look we all tried hard today but we were running out of troops. We've got two former centres playing front row."

Langmack said he needed big forwards to "bend them back", hence the club's desperation to sign Lauitiiti, who was released from the Warriors on Monday.

"You can be as willing and creative as you want but at the end of the day you need a big bopper," said Langmack, whose side conceded 117 points over the past three rounds.

The Bulldogs didn't escape unscathed, with New Zealand international Sonny-Bill Williams facing up to three months out because of an ankle injury suffered seconds after he came onto the field in the 56th minute.

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