Another chapter in Book of Feuds is ready to be written.
With the Roosters signing teen prodigy Joseph Suaalii from the Rabbitohs in the off-season, the premiership's oldest rivalry is alive and well.
Each team enters the third round with strong form - the Roosters accounted for Manly and the Wests Tigers while the Rabbitohs bounced back from their season-opening loss to Melbourne to outlast the Sea Eagles in the wet on Saturday.
South Sydney towelled up the Tricolours when the teams last met in the final round of the 2020 season.
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The rundown
Team news
Rabbitohs: There were no changes on match day with South Sydney's line-up confirmed 1-17 at the final cut-down. The men to miss out were Jacob Host and Steven Marsters.
Coach Wayne Bennett had confirmed on Thursday that halfback Adam Reynolds would take his place in the blockbuster.
"He's done all his tests and protocols and he's good," Bennett said of his star playmaker.
Prop Junior Tatola is also good to go after overcoming a hamstring complaint.
Winger Josh Mansour has been recalled to the starting side to replace Jaxson Paulo, who has suffered two concussions in recent weeks and will be rested.
Middle forward Liam Knight resumed contact training last week after his own bout of concussion but is still not expected back until round four.
Tautau Moga and Troy Dargan were the players trimmed from the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.
The Rabbitohs claimed their biggest ever win over the Roosters (60-8) when these teams last met.
The rivalry, the record and the aftermath: Rabbitohs-Roosters to re-ignite
Roosters: Interchange forward Nat Butcher failed to make the final 17 with last week's try-scoring debutant Fletcher Baker taking his place on the bench. Matt Ikuvalu is the other match-day omission.
Victor Radley's return from injury has been delayed due to a minor shoulder injury with Drew Hutchison replacing him on the bench. Sam Walker was the other player to drop out of the playing squad on Thursday night.
Angus Crichton will return from a one-match suspension for a crusher tackle on the right edge.
Hooker and captain Jake Friend (concussion) is missing again this week while his understudy Sam Verrills (knee) is still a couple of weeks away from making his return from ACL surgery.
The Roosters have won their opening three games only once in the past 17 seasons.
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Key match-up
Adam Reynolds v Luke Keary: The opposing halfbacks have been instrumental in their respective team's attack this season as each side looks to iron out a few kinks after personnel changes in the summer.
Reynolds' kicking game is one of the best in the Telstra Premiership while Keary is adapting to his new role as the Roosters' chief on-field organiser.
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Stat attack
60 points - it's a total which still touches the nerves of Roosters fans following their 52-point loss to the Rabbitohs in round 20 last year. Souths winger Alex Johnston registered five tries in that game and Adam Reynolds booted 10 goals in their record-breaking victory.
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