Record-breaking South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt’s NRL career could already be over.

The Rabbitohs, of course, remain well and truly in the NRL title race, but the club’s all-time leading tryscorer remains out of favour at Redfern.

Souths feeder club North Sydney failed to make the NSW Cup finals, which started last week, and given the stellar form of rookie Alex Johnston and the solid late season efforts of veteran Lote Tuqiri, Merritt will struggle to force his way back into first grade.

Johnston has been one of the revelations of the season, scoring 17 tries in 15 games, while dual international Tuqiri has found a home on the Rabbitohs’ left wing after a mid-season spell in reserve grade.

Both Johnston and Tuqiri have been chosen in coach Michael Maguire’s side for Friday’s qualifying final against Manly at Allianz Stadium.

A veteran of 236 NRL games over 13 seasons, 11 of which have come in the cardinal and myrtle of South Sydney, Merritt broke Benny Wearing’s long standing Rabbitohs all-time tryscoring record with his 145th first grade try in round six against Penrith.

He has only played two NRL games since.

Merritt is understood to still be training with South Sydney.

A Rabbitohs official told AAP that the 31-year-old, who is off contract at the end of the season, was yet to make a decision on his playing future.