VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Saturday July 4, 5.35pm (AEST).
COVERAGE: Fox Sports 2
LAST TIME: Rabbitohs 23 - Tigers 22 at SCG, Round 10, 2009
WALKING WOUNDED: Craig Wing returns for the Rabbitohs at hooker after missing Origin II and last Monday night's loss to Newcastle with a hamstring injury. This will be his 250th NRL match. Veteran full-back Rhys Wesser has been penciled in for his long-awaited comeback from a knee injury in Round 19.
The Tigers still have Keith Galloway (knee), Chris Heighington (leg) and Dean Collis (forearm) on the sidelines, while the Benji Marshall half-back experiment is over with the Kiwi skipper moving back to pivot, allowing utility Tim Moltzen to slip into the No. 7 jersey.
FORM: What form? The Rabbitohs have lost their previous four matches, while the Tigers have managed just one victory in their last eight starts. After a commendable first half against the Knights last Monday evening, the limp Bunnies were blown off the paddock by a side obviously pumped by some choice half-time words from the coach. Take Michael Crocker out of the equation and the Rabbitohs' pack was meek on top of a backline that rarely saw any decent ball until the final five minutes. Coach Jason Taylor is under the pump and for good reason. The Tigers weren't much better during their 21-10 loss to the Dragons on Friday night with a willingness to throw the ball coming at a major cost - possession. Their season is as good as over, making it four consecutive years without finals appearance since that memorable 2005 GF win.
WHO'S HOT: Crocker has proven a gem for the Rabbitohs since signing mid-season. He led the way in a well-beaten forward pack last Monday night, scoring a try and pulling off some solid hits.
The Tigers struggled for stand-outs against the Dragons last Friday night, but huge winger Taniela Tuiaki certainly proved a handful in his 159m from 13 hit-ups.
WE THINK: The last time these two teams met a Nathan Merritt field goal in the final seconds decided the result in front a 30,000 SCG crowd. Since then both sides have struggled and with only one of those clubs still in with a realistic shot at the finals, the result here may well go to the hungrier of the two. And that team has to be the Rabbitohs who are still just three points shy of eighth position. With Wing back in at hooker and continual doubts over the fitness of Tigers' skipper Robbie Farah, the desperate Bunnies should get the cash in a tight, open affair. Rabbitohs by 2.
TEAMS:
South Sydney Rabbitohs:
1.Nathan Merritt, 2. Jamie Simpson, 3. Colin Best, 4. Ben Lowe, 5. Fetuli Talanoa, 6. John Sutton, 7. Chris Sandow, 8. Scott Geddes, 9. Craig Wing, 10. Roy Asotasi [c], 11. Luke Stuart, 12. David Fa'alogo, 13. Michael Crocker.
Subs: 14. Issac Luke, 15. Eddy Pettybourne, 16. Shannan McPherson, 17. Garret Crossman, 18. David Kidwell (one to be omitted).
Wests Tigers:
1.Shannon Gallant, 2. Taniela Tuiaki, 3. Blake Ayshford, 4. Chris Lawrence, 5. Beau Ryan, 6. Benji Marshall, 7. Tim Moltzen, 8. Bryce Gibbs, 9. Robbie Farah [c], 10. Todd Payten, 11. Gareth Ellis, 12. Danny Galea, 13. Corey Payne.
Interchange: 14. Josh Morris, 15. Dene Halatau, 16. John Skandalis, 17. Daine Laurie.
Referees: Steve Lyons & Alan Shortall