VENUE & TIME: Canberra Stadium, Monday night - 19:00 AEST
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Raiders 16 - Rabbitohs 10, at ANZ Stadium, Round 9, 2007.
WALKING WOUNDED: Things have gone from bad to worse for Canberra on the injury front with Lincoln Withers (knee) joining William Zillman (knee) and Phil Graham (knee) on the sidelines for the rest of 2008. Also unavailable are Marshall Chalk (thumb), Ryan Hinchcliffe (thumb), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (knee) and Michael Weyman (suspension).
South Sydney is in much better shape as far as its medical room goes with only star recruit Craig Wing (shoulder) missing from it's best 17. Fetuli Talanoa is the only one of the four players dropped before Round 8 for drinking the night before training who has been recalled to first grade.
FORM: The Raiders have been up and down this season but crashed to their fifth loss from eight games last weekend against the Roosters. Neil Henry's men were never really in the contest, trailing by 22 at the break as they went down 4-30.
The Rabbitohs meanwhile would probably have preferred to play last weekend to try and grab some momentum after their first win of the year in Round 8. Having lost 10 straight dating back to last season, Jason Taylor's side surprisingly downed the Cowboys 28-24.
WHO'S HOT: Rabbitohs lock John Sutton had a superb game against the Cowboys, setting up their first try and scoring a couple himself, including the one that proved the difference in the tight finish.
WE THINK: While the most recent outing for each team might suggest the Rabbitohs are travelling better, one win doesn't mean they're suddenly back in business. The Bunnies still have a long way to go before they can be backed with any confidence, especially on a Monday night in what is sure to be a freezing nation's capital. Expect the Green Machine to bounce back for its fourth win of the year. Raiders by 10.
TEAMS:
Raiders: 1. Bronx Goodwin, 2. Colin Best, 3. Adrian Purtell, 4. Joel Monaghan, 5. David Milne, 6. Terry Campese, 7. Todd Carney, 8. Scott Logan, 9. Alan Tongue (c), 10. Troy Thompson, 11. Glen Turner, 12. Nigel Plum, 13. Joe Picker
Interchange: 14. Josh Miller, 15. Glen Buttriss, 16. Trevor Thurling, 17. Cy Lasscock, 18. Neville Costigan
Rabbitohs: 1. Nathan Merritt, 2. Fetuli Talanoa, 3. Nigel Vagana, 4. Beau Champion, 5. Shannon Hegarty, 6. Dean Widders, 7. Issac Luke, 8. Manase Manuokafoa, 9. George Ndaira, 10. Roy Asotasi (c), 11. David Kidwell, 12. David Fa'alogo, 13. John Sutton
Interchange: 14. Beau Falloon, 15. Shannan McPherson, 16. Luke Stuart, 17. Eddy Pettybourne