Throw the NRL form guide out the window.

St George Illawarra hates the Bulldogs and Steve Price reckons that's enough reason not to write off the Dragons at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night.

`Dogs captain Price believes that fierce rivalry will ensure the underdog Dragons bounce back strongly from their humiliating 38-12 loss to Manly last weekend.

"St George, no matter how good or bad they're going, they always get excited against us," said Price.

"It's like the (New Zealand) Warriors, they grow two or three legs every time they play us. They could get beaten by 50 the week before and then the week after they play like legends.

"That's just the way it is - it's got that traditional rivalry that Canterbury and Saints have always had.

"They've always been tough, close sort of games that can go either way and I can't see that being any different this weekend."

Case in point was at Wollongong in round 18 last year when the `Dogs pipped St George Illawarra 28-26 in a thriller.

Price said the Bulldogs weren't paying much attention to the Dragons' woeful effort against the Sea Eagles last Sunday when they conceded 26 points in the second half in a 38-12 loss.

"It wasn't that their game plan wasn't right, they just weren't mentally quite switched on," said the in-form prop.

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