Roar Guru
Traditional rivals the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs face off at Allianz Stadium, with both teams out to secure the best finals position possible. Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEST) for live coverage.
The Roosters are well on their way to a third consecutive minor premiership, and a win over arch-enemies South Sydney will secure it.
The Bondi boys are coming off a 36-point win over the Manly Sea Eagles 46-10, done without the injured Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mitchell Pearce. But if rookies Jackson Hastings and Brendan Elliot continue their electric form, the Roosters will be unstoppable.
In the only change to Trent Robinson’s side, Michael Jennings returns from suspension at centre, pushing Mitchell Aubusson back onto the bench and Matt McIlwrick to 18th man.
The Rabbitohs are at seventh place, on equal points with the Storm and Bulldogs, yet still have a chance of making the top four if they win tonight and other results go their way.
They will likely struggle however, coming off a 12-47 thumping at the hands of the second-placed Brisbane Broncos last Thursday night.
Rabbitohs co-captains John Sutton and Greg Inglis are both injured, however Inglis may make an expected return tonight. Issac Luke is also out due to suspension, while Ben Lowe has retired.
Michael Maguire has named Cameron McInnes and Chris McQueen to start at hooker and back row, replacing Luke and Sutton respectively, while Paul Carter is 18th man.
The big match-up comes in the halves, with the Roosters’ combination of James Maloney and Jackson Hastings to go head-to-head with Luke Keary and Adam Reynolds.
Since 1998, the Roosters and Rabbitohs have met in 30 games, the Roosters winning 20, Souths victorious in only 10. Their most recent match-up came in Round 2, when the Rabbitohs were 34-26 winners.
Prediction
The Roosters will claim the minor premiership with an impressive win over the Rabbitohs.
Roosters by 10.
Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.