Aaron Woods is set to play for Cronulla this Friday night after completing a mid-season switch from Canterbury.

The long-mooted move appeared to be dead after weeks of Sharks overtures and a impasse over fees to snare the representative prop before the June 30 deadline.

But the Bulldogs on Tuesday morning released Woods just months into his four-year deal, paving the way for the Sharks to announce his recruitment on a three-and-a-half-year contract later on Tuesday afternoon.

It’s a coup for Shane Flanagan’s side in their hunt for finals football and could help revive the career of Woods, who was overlooked for Brad Fittler’s series-winning NSW State of Origin team.

For the Bulldogs it will further ease pressure on a salary cap laden with heavily back-ended contracts a week after the departure of Moses Mbye to the Wests Tigers started the clean-up.

Woods is expected to be available for Cronulla’s away clash with the Warriors on Friday night, with the team departing for New Zealand on Wednesday.