Ivan Cleary and John Cartwright are ready to step into Des Hasler’s shoes should Canterbury cut loose their high-profile coach.
It’s understood both are eager to take over the reins at Belmore if the board and Hasler part ways.
Canterbury chairman Ray Dib and his fellow six directors, who will meet on Friday to discuss Hasler’s future, are playing a dangerous game with a coach known for doing things his own way.
Just a month after taking Manly to a premiership in 2011, Hasler quit following a disagreement over the terms of his contract upgrade.
The Bulldogs face a similar scenario five years later, with performance clauses added to a new two-year deal that were not part of original discussions, upsetting the coach.