The Rabbitohs and Dolphins meet for the second time this season with another feast of attacking football on the cards after they piled on 70 points in Round 1 at this venue.
It was Souths prevailing 40-30 on that occasion thanks to doubles to Latrell Mitchell and Campbell Graham, while Jake Averillo bagged a try and ran for 164 metres for the Dolphins.
Since that Round 1 showdown the Bunnies have won five of their eight games to sit inside the top four while Kristian Woolf’s men have split their matches 4-4, including wins in their past two games against the Storm and Bulldogs.
The Dolphins are the ‘away’ team at Magic Round but they will have plenty of support in the stands as they look to take a big scalp along the road to a first ever finals appearance.
Team News
Rabbitohs: Superstar Latrell Mitchell returns from a back injury so Latrell Siegwalt moves to the interchange. The loss of Alex Johnston to a knee injury sees Bayleigh Bentley-Hape come in on the wing for his first NRL game of the season. Jayden Sullivan is the new face on the six-man interchange. No changes in Thursday’s 24-hour update.
Dolphins: Prop Francis Molo has been ruled out on Thursday due to an ankle injury suffered against the Bulldogs in Round 10. Felise Kaufusi will start the game. Coach Kristian Woolf has confirmed that Kurt Donoghoe will make his return from a niggling hamstring injury that has hampered him in recent weeks. Donoghoe takes his place on the bench alongside Oryn Keeley, who also returns.
Stat Attack
The Rabbitohs have scored 30 points or more in their last six games.
Dolphins right winger Jamayne Isaako has scored 50 points in his last three games.
The Rabbitohs have lost five of their last six games at Suncorp Stadium.
Dolphins left winger Selwyn Cobbo has scored six tries in four Magic Round games.
Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston is on a nine-game try scoring streak.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.