Recalled Johnston open to offers in search for new deal

Alex Johnston is preparing to make a return on the wing in South Sydney's line-up later this month and wants to use the next five months to chase a new deal – at Redfern or elsewhere.

Johnston revealed he expected to return to the left edge when the competition restarts from May 28 with James Roberts unlikely to return to the paddock in for the round-three Friday night clash with the Roosters after entering a rehabilitation clinic earlier this month.

Due to a glut of talented outside backs, Johnston was the odd man out prior to round one when coach Wayne Bennett selected him from the bench for the opening two matches of the season.

The expected promotion will allow for star signing Latrell Mitchell to resume his quest to make the fullback spot his own.

Alternatively, Mitchell could float between fullback and centre with Johnston and Campbell Graham accommodating the switch.

"The way we've been training at the moment, Latrell has been staying at fullback and Campbell will go from left wing to right centre and I'll be on the wing," Johnston said on Friday.

"I'm looking forward to get back starting and hopefully scoring some tries. I'd love to play fullback again but playing on the wing is awesome and I've scored a lot of tries.

"I'm looking forward to scoring a few more and hopefully cracking 100 [career tries] this year."

The long-term future of Johnston, who sits on 84 tries from 124 appearances at the Rabbitohs, has been a topic of discussion for months with the PNG international linked to several clubs in the off-season.

While he's received no official word from Bennett or the club on where he stands in securing a new deal, Johnston is realistic about the situation.

"Playing 80 minutes gives me time to put my best foot forward and try to get some interest from all the clubs and play my best footy," he said.

"If Souths can give me an offer … I'm not sure if they will or not, but either way I'm going to play my best footy and hope contracts come.

"Whatever happens, happens. I'm going to focus on playing my best footy each week and hopefully get some offers and it will get sorted out later on. At the end of the day as long as I'm playing footy I'll be happy."