Just three rounds into the season and the Rabbitohs find themselves at a crossroads as they head into the traditional Good Friday clash against an improving Bulldogs outfit.
Losses to the Sea Eagles, Broncos and Roosters have Souths in unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the ladder and coach Jason Demetriou is feeling the heat as he looks to guide them out of the slump.
With big guns Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker failing to fire, the Rabbitohs were picked apart by the Roosters last Friday, coming up with 15 errors and 36 missed tackles on their way to a 48-6 defeat.
In stark contrast the Bulldogs found their mojo in a 32-0 demolition of the Titans as Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney and Jacob Kiraz produced standout performances.
With his new-look side starting to gel, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo will be confident of springing an upset in front of a bumper crowd at Accor Stadium and avenging a 50-16 defeat in the corresponding game last year.
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Team News
Rabbitohs: No changes on game day with Lachlan Ilias 18th man. Damien Cook is back at hooker and set for big minutes with Siliva Havili left out. Sean Keppie was the other player to make way with Michael Chee Kam and Shaquai Mitchell joining the 17 Cameron Murray (knee) is right to go after picking up a knock earlier in the week.
Bulldogs: Josh Addo-Carr has been called up an hour before kick-off with Blake Wilson going to 18th man. Addo-Carr hasn't played since suffering a shoulder injury in Round 1. That is the only change to the side that downed the Titans last week.
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Stat Attack
- The Rabbitohs have won the past five Good Friday games against the Bulldogs.
- The Bulldogs are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time in more than a year (Round 2-3, 2023).
- The Rabbitohs have conceded an average of more than 37 points per game in 2024.
- Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 21 tries in 21 games at Accor Stadium.
- Rabbitohs second-rower Jacob Host will make his 100th NRL appearance.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com