Is Hazem El Masri single-handedly a more potent attacking weapon than the entire 2017 Canterbury squad combined? We are about to find out.

Not only is the Bulldogs' sputtering attack the worst in the competition, there's a chance the current squad will post fewer points than the goalkicking winger did all by himself in his record-breaking 2004 season.

Ahead of Thursday night's must-win clash against Parramatta, the blue and whites have managed to score just 208 points, with their -60 points differential the worst since their wooden-spoon season of 2008. To put that into perspective, El Masri individually notched 342 points in 2004, a record that still stands to this day. On current form – and with nine games and a bye to come – the Bulldogs will need to significantly improve their attack or risk being beaten single-handedly by the champion goalkicking winger.

Injuries to skipper James Graham and fellow forward Greg Eastwood – who are out for a month and up to six weeks respectively – will only make the task more difficult.