They didn't come away with the points but Wests Tigers will have gained confidence from pushing Penrith all the way last round.
The Tigers provide a strong test for South Sydney, who sit just behind their opponents in ninth place after staving off a spirited Bulldogs outfit in round eight.
The Rabbitohs, yet to truly hit their stride, are looking to string back-to-back wins together for the second time this season.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire would savour a victory against the team he led to a premiership in 2014.
Match: Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers
Round 9 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
6th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
8th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Rabbitohs: The Bunnies are 1-17. Centre Braidon Burns is out due to a season-ending knee injury. Bayley Sironen returns from a minor back complaint on the bench. Steve Marsters and Troy Dargan were trimmed from the reserves on Thursday night and Corey Allan and Mark Nicholls were omitted an hour before game time. The Rabbitohs have won their past three games at Bankwest Stadium.
Wests Tigers: A late change for Michael Maguire with veteran Chris Lawrence promoted to the starting side and Michael Chee-Kam going to the bench. Russell Packer and Chris McQueen were the last two cut an hour before kick-off.
Reece Hoffman debuts on the wing in place of the injured Tommy Talau (hamstring). Veteran playmaker Benji Marshall replaces young forward Sam McIntyre (concussion) on the bench.
Chee-Kam had originally been named at centre for the suspended Joey Leilua. Moses Mbye (knee) and Luciano Leilua (head knock) are good to go. Winger David Nofoaluma has scored five tries in his past four games at Bankwest Stadium.
Match: Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers
Round 9 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Dane GagaiWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Campbell GrahamCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 James RobertsCentre for Wests Tigers is number 17 Chris Lawrence
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Alex JohnstonWinger for Wests Tigers is number 19 Reece Hoffman
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita TatolaProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Oliver Clark
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Jaydn Su'a2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Ethan Lowe2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Bayley SironenInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 3 Michael Chee Kam
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick MagoInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Elijah Taylor
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Hame SeleInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Mark NichollsInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Benji Marshall
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Tim Roby
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Could we be seeing a preview of an Origin battle between NSW hooker Damien Cook and Queensland hopeful Harry Grant? Cook was strong for South Sydney last week, picking up two Dally M votes, while Grant has taken the game by storm since arriving at the Tigers on a loan deal from Melbourne, leading some to suggest he's ready to represent the Maroons. Both No.9s have electric running games.
Stat attack
Surprisingly for a Bennett-coached team, the Rabbitohs have been guilty of turning over the ball way too easily. They have the equal third-worst completion rate this season (75 per cent) and have made the fifth-most errors (92). The Tigers have shown much better handling - they're equal fifth for completion rate (79 per cent) and have produced the second-fewest errors (77).
