The Penrith Panthers will have their work cut out for them tonight in Thursday night footy when they play a fresh and trim looking Canterbury Bulldogs at Pepper Stadium according to premiership-winner Ben Ikin.

Penrith suffered a narrow loss to Canberra in humid conditions to start the season while the Bulldogs put the cleaners through Manly at Brookvale Oval.

“It’s obvious [the Bulldogs’] giant pack has worked really hard over the pre-season to get fit and lean in preparation for the interchange reduction and the shot clock,” Ikin said in this week’s Big League magazine.

“The newly svelte Sam Kasiano is the perfect example – not only in his appearance, but the change up in his game.

“Kasiano minimised his usual ‘130-kilogram halfback’ style and constantly had the Sea Eagles on the back foot in a busy, tough performance.

“The entire Bulldogs pack played the same way – ‘dumbed-down footy’, I think it’s called.”