South Sydney’s Sam Burgess remains in doubt for Friday’s top-of-the-table clash with Manly that NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley has described as a potential grand final preview.

Burgess is battling a shoulder injury and missed last week’s win over Newcastle. On Wednesday Burgess admitted he was no certainty to play and would undergo further tests later in the week.

The Sea Eagles have a four-point lead over the Rabbitohs going into the NRL blockbuster at the SCG as the race for the minor premierships heats up with five rounds remaining.

Rugby League great Daley rates Manly as the standouts of the competition and doubts whether a side could win the premiership from outside the top four.

He said winning four straight semi-final games was a monumental task and that Manly and Souths could meet again in the first week in October at ANZ Stadium.

“It could be a grand final preview,” he said.

“Both sides are going well at this stage and both have plenty of talent and ability,” he said.

Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire also revealed the diagnosis on five-eighth John Sutton’s knee injury had been positive and he could be back within a fortnight.

While Maguire refused to be drawn on whether Friday’s match was a grand final dress rehearsal, he did say he was expecting it to be a litmus test.

“Manly has obviously been setting the pace so it gives us an indicator of what we have to work on at this time of the year,” he said.

“The boys are really believing in what we’re doing.”

Maguire said he was not concerned by comments made by Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett on Sunday when he said Souths were predictable and it was “debatable” whether they were contenders.

Maguire described it as “noise in the background” and said he was unfazed.