Perhaps the biggest positive to come out of Saturday night's Charity Shield defeat for St George Illawarra is that Gareth Widdop appears to be locked in at fullback.
Widdop put in a mostly assured performance in the No.1 red V jersey in Mudgee, the number he is expected to keep for the Dragons' round one clash with the Cowboys in Townsville.
The Dragons went down 36-24 to South Sydney in the 36th edition of the traditional pre-season clash, with the Rabbitohs retaining the shield they have held since 2013.
The diminutive Matt Dufty, who played fullback for St George Illawarra last season, was given game time late in the match in front of more than 9,000 fans.
Paul McGregor is understood to be keen on starting games with Widdop at fullback, Corey Norman and Ben Hunt as halves and Cameron McInnes at hooker. But the Dragons coach wants to explore the possibility of bringing on Dufty at fullback late in games, shifting Widdop to the halves and Hunt to hooker.
McInnes could even play minutes at lock in the absence of the suspended Jack de Belin.
Tyson Frizell took de Belin's role against Souths and looked typically strong, though the Rabbitohs were able to exploit his move from St George Illawarra's right edge.