NRL supercoach Wayne Bennett is set to be a special ringside guest at Tim Tszyu’s must-win fight with Anthony Velazquez next week after the pair sat down for a one-on-one meeting at South Sydney training on Wednesday morning.

Tszyu, who fights to save his career at the TikTok Entertainment Centre (formerly the ICC Convention Centre) in Sydney, took a break from the final week of fight preparation to spend an hour on the sidelines at Souths training this week.

He tossed a ball around while taking in the action before catching up with Rabbitohs stars Cam Murray and Latrell Mitchell.

Souths five-eighth Cody Walker then presented Tszyu with a jersey with his name on the back, saying he’ll also be in attendance on December 17.

“Hope to see you wearing it at a few games, mate – maybe a GF,” Walker said. “I’m excited to see Tim back in Australia, I’ve always been a big supporter.

“I remember back at the Hordern Pavilion (he) fought on a Paul Gallen undercard in the very early days.

“I was a big supporter of his dad’s too from a young age.

“To see him back in Sydney, we’ll all be down there as a club, and we’re looking forward to seeing him getting his arm raised in victory.”

Tszyu met Bennett for the first time on the side of the training paddock moments after the session ended, before the former World Champion spoke to the seven-time Premiership winner inside Rabbitohs HQ.

“It was exciting to meet the great Wayne Bennett and sit down for a few minutes,” Tszyu said. “He told me he was coming to watch me fight next week.

“That was my first time meeting him, but he seems like a very knowledgeable man.”

Despite being spotted with Cronulla Sharks jerseys over the years, Tszyu confirmed his true allegiances lie with the Rabbitohs.

“I’ve been to a lot of different games and a lot of different teams have given me jerseys, but I’ve always been a Bunnies supporter,” he said.

There are some similarities between Tszyu and the Rabbitohs, with both attempting to bounce back from disappointing outings over the past two years.

Tszyu has lost three of his last four, but is adamant with a new team around him he can make it back to a world title shot again, while Souths finished a disappointing 14th on the NRL ladder.

“It’s not what you’ve previously done, it’s what you’re about to do,” Tszyu said. “We’re in the same position, we need to prove it to ourselves.

“I’m bulletproof, and the only thing on my mind right now is victory.”

Walker said he’s no good with a pair of gloves on, but singled out a couple of teammates who can throw hands.

“There’s a few of our boys who could transition (to boxing) and do a good job,” he said. “Jacky Wighton’s name gets mentioned a fair bit, and Brandon Smith as well. He’s got that boxing mentality.

“I definitely won’t be getting in the ring.”

Tszyu’s appearance at Rabbitohs training comes as Velazquez’s departure from America was delayed after his name was printed incorrectly on his ticket.

He was unable to leave on his scheduled flight, and was forced to re-book to a later flight.

Team Tszyu could already be sweating on flights and airport delays, with his trainer, Pedro Diaz, only scheduled to arrive in Australia one day before the bout.

“Seriously? This is the first time I’ve heard of it,” Tszyu said of Velazquez’s delay. “Don’t scare me, please.

“Let’s just get him here. I don’t care, give him any advantage he needs, I just need him here.”