South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett believes his side can still win the competition without Latrell Mitchell after the star fullback was charged by the match review committee on Saturday.
The Rabbitohs dominated with a nine tries to two display against the Roosters on Friday night but Mitchell's sin-binning for high contact on Joey Manu could spell disaster for Bennett's outfit and their title chances in his final year at the club.
Bennett insisted he planned to rest several players for next week's clash with the Dragons, including Mitchell, but that decision could be taken out of his hands after he was cited for the 57th minute incident involving former teammate Manu.
Bennett was reluctant to talk specifically about the incident post-match that has Mitchell facing a ban of six to nine matches, but was coy when asked if the Rabbitohs could overcome his loss and win the competition.
Mitchell on report and sent to the sin bin
"We'll all have to wait and see," Bennett quipped.
"I think we're a better team than we were last year and we're pretty good."
However, he was realistic about the possibility of being without Mitchell in the coming weeks given the Rabbitohs No.1 had already served a four-match ban earlier this year for a similar incident.
The Rabbitohs have locked in third spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder with next week's Dragons clash essentially a dead-rubber chance for Bennett to not only rest players but figure out a possible fullback replacement.
Bennett has tinkered with Cody Walker, Alex Johnston and Blake Taaffe at fullback in Mitchell's absences this season and has a plethora of outside backs waiting in the wings for a call-up.
Mitchell crashes over off some fast ball
Rabbitohs veteran Josh Mansour is sidelined for the remainder season with a knee injury but Braidon Burns, Taane Milne and Tautau Moga are among those in the extended squad.
"Our greatest strength this year has been our squad," Bennett said.
"We've won a lot of games with players missing. I'm confident there are enough good players that can make it happen for us."
Despite piling on the points, Bennett was left disappointed with the side's period after half-time in a follow-up from last week's second-half lapse against Penrith.
"It was a mixed performance for us, the actual football side of it," Bennett said.
"We've been starting much better than we have previously but I thought we lost our way again.
Souths find space down the right for Paulo to score
"They had patches of good moments and pretty ordinary stuff. We're running out of time [to address it] but I'm hoping the finals will bring the best out in them.
"For 10-15 minutes we were floundering at 24-12 and they could've got another try there.
"We managed to hang in and get some stability back and got our game back and took it away from them."