Matulino has been sidelined since August 8 after being banned for three games for a shoulder charge on St George Illawarra's Gareth Widdop in Wellington.
Townsend has missed the Warriors' last two matches but returns before rejoining former club Cronulla next year.
He has been named to partner rookie Mason Lino, who will wear the No 7 jersey in his third NRL game.
Fullback Sam Tomkins seems destined to miss what would have been his 38th match before heading back to England.
Tomkins' left knee injury flared up again early in the second half of last Sunday's loss to Wests Tigers and assistant coach Andrew Webster said Tomkins would be given every chance to prove his fitness.
But he hasn't been named in the line-up to face the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium with Tuimoala Lolohea being switched to fullback where he started the season in the opening match against Newcastle.
Matulino's return results in Sebastine Ikahihifo going to the bench for what will also be his last match for the Warriors.
Returning on the interchange is second rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner after a strong display for the club's New South Wales Cup side last Saturday. He replaces Sione Lousi.
Hooker Nathan Friend will line up for the final time while departing Dominique Peyroux and Siliva Havili have also been named but could still feature for the club in week two of the NSW Cup finals.
Just three players - Friend, centre Solomone Kata and captain Simon Mannering - are set to finish the campaign featuring in all 24 games this season.
Webster revealed today that Mannering had played against the Tigers despite being seriously ill.
"Simon wasn't right at all and it was suggested he shouldn't play," he said.
"He didn't look good in the warm-ups or in the sheds but he said he would play. It's typical of him that he went out without fuss and defended the way he did for about 60 minutes despite being in poor shape. You just can't say enough about him."
Warriors team to play the Bulldogs:
Tuimoala Lolohea, Matt Allwood, Dominique Peyroux, Solomone Kata, Jonathan Wright, Chad Townsend, Mason Lino, Albert Vete, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson, Ryan Hoffman, Simon Mannering (c).
Interchange: Konrad Hurrell, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Sam Lisone, Siliva Havili.
