Rabbitohs five-eighth Luke Keary admits time is running out for his team to hit their straps, as South Sydney look to keep in touch with the Telstra Premiership's top four.
In has been an inconsistent year for the Rabbitohs and with games against the ladder-leading Broncos and Roosters to come, they will have to lift their game or risk meekly surrendering their premiership defence.
South Sydney went to Townsville and absolutely dominated the Cowboys in Round 23, before backing it up eight days later with a lethargic 14-point loss to the Bulldogs.
The Rabbitohs have only managed to win three games consecutively at most this season (three times: Rounds 1-3, 11-13 and 19-21), and are a good chance of being on the wrong end of the scoreboard for the 10th time this year if Brisbane do a number on them.
"I think I learnt last year that it takes one week to turn it on and it takes one week to turn it off too," Keary, who missed the Bulldogs match due to suspension, said.
"The competition is wide open. We just have to win. Basically. We just have to win and win well for the rest of the year.
"It was tough watching how we performed [last round]. It was disappointing to miss it because I'd played every game before it this year, but it's given me a chance to freshen up too."
Preparing for the Broncos without captain Greg Inglis (knee) who was ruled out on Monday, Keary knows how tough this Thursday night's challenge will be – which may be because he supported them growing up in Ipswich.
"They have been the most consistent and best team, with the Cowboys and the Roosters, all year. After seeing them on Saturday night I'm expecting a tough, tough game on Thursday," Keary said.
"They have been outstanding. [Halfback Ben] Hunt has taken his game to a new level and [Anthony] Milford's just a freak. He just plays off the back of Hunt and the forwards and they are very, very dangerous when they get a bit of go-forward."
Meanwhile Keary holds no concerns for his tackling technique after missing last week's game due to a shoulder charge.
"My tackling technique is a matter of just holding on," Keary laughed.
"I'll be right. I think I just managed to get a bit of a spurt in that game and I shot out of the line. I'm not sure why. I was just fired up.
"It was a nearly must win for us [against Cowboys] so that's how I treated it personally."