Bulldogs plan for Sonny day

Bulldogs skipper Andrew Ryan says his side will prepare for Sonny Bill Williams to play in Friday's clash with South Sydney with knee scans on Wednesday to determine the star Kiwi's availability.

Williams is in doubt for the Good Friday clash after injuring his knee last Saturday in the second half fade out to Parramatta.

The 22-year-old backrower again missed training on Tuesday due to swelling in the knee and although he was named in the Bulldogs team he will have scans on Wednesday to determine if he can play.

Ryan is hopeful his backrow partner will be fit to play, but admits the six-day turnaround has not helped Williams recover from the tough round one hitout.

"We'll just prepare that he is playing and see what happens," said Ryan.

"It's a bit of a short week so we're not too sure.

"He is a very important player in our team and helps our side out a lot when we need him.

"Sonny may play this week so we're certainly not sitting around crying in the rooms he may be out this week."

Bulldogs prop Justin Tsoulos has been ruled out with a rib injury, replaced by Chris Armit with Kane Cleal moving into the starting lineup.

After their 28-20 capitulation to the Eels, Ryan admits the Dogs threw away the game and while he can't explain the second half he knows they need to respond quickly.

"It's always disappointing to lose. It's round one and you're in a good position and we probably should have gone on to win the game," he said.

"We had our chances to win the game in the end but we didn't take those opportunities.

"It's one game, it's not as if anything changes. We go through the same process we did last week and the things that worked in preseason. All we can do is prepare the best we can and hopefully get the right result this week."

The loss has heaped further pressure on coach Steve Folkes, his position currently being reviewed by the club with a decision on his future expected late next month.

But Ryan says speculation on the coach's future is not weighing on anybody at the club.

"There's no extra pressure at all, we haven't spoken about it at all," said Ryan.

"As far as we're concerned all we want to do is play every week. Folkesy is not concerned about it at all. All he can do is coach the team to the best of his ability and that's what he's done so far."