VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Monday 7 July - 7:00pm AEST
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Bulldogs 25 - Rabbitohs 12 at ANZ Stadium, Round two, 2008
WALKING WOUNDED: It's little wonder Canterbury is struggling. The Bulldogs have 10 players sidelined through injury and none are due back anytime soon. The Rabbitohs' medical staff has been twiddling their thumbs all week because there are casualties.
FORM: The Rabbitohs, somehow, have managed to win three straight. We say somehow because they had no right to beat North Queensland last round. Trailing 28-4 10 minutes into the second half, Souths conjured up the second-equal best comeback in premiership history to snatch a thriller 29-28. What can you say about the Bulldogs? They had their backsides kicked against the Raiders and were fairly ordinary in the follow-up loss to the Roosters. They have won two of their last nine games. Their season is long gone.
WHO'S HOT: Chris Sandow is the 765th half-back the Bunnies have used since re-entering the comp and maybe, just maybe, he is here for the long haul. The nippy No. 7 has handled the step up to the NRL with ease, although there are still a few rough edges to knock off. Sandow showed he is a cool customer, landing the match-winning field goal against the Cowboys with less than a minute left.
WE THINK: The disinterested Doggies already have one eye on 2009 after a dreadful season to date. They played okay in patches against the Chooks but were well off the pace for most of the contest. The Bunnies have come to life after a miserable start to the year and should have too much enthusiasm for the canines. There is even talk of the club emulating the deeds of the famous 1955 side and making a late-season undefeated run to the semis. They need to win here if that's to be any chance. Souths by 8.
TEAMS:
Bulldogs: Brent Crisp, Hazem El Masri, Daryl Millard, Tim Winitana, Heka Nanai, Arana Taumata, Ben Roberts, Jarrad Hickey, Corey Hughes, Fred Briggs, Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan (capt), Reni Maitua. Interchange: Lee Te Maari, Brad Morrin, John Kite, Aaron Groom.
Rabbitohs: Luke Capewell, Nathan Merritt, Jamie Simpson, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, Craig Wing, Chris Sandow, Scott Geddes, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (capt), Luke Stuart, David Fa'alogo, John Sutton. Interchange: Beau Falloon, Shannan McPherson, Manase Manuokafoa, Michael Greenfield, David Kidwell (one to be omitted).