The Roosters continued to march strongly toward the finals registering their fifth straight win over the highly rated Melbourne Storm last Saturday night, 24 – 12.

Despite being forced into making six goal line drop-outs, fifteen errors in the trying conditions and ending up on the wrong side of the of most of the game stats – possession (47%), completion rate (64%), the Roosters defence stood tall as against a persistent Storm who dominated for a majority of the game.

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Three tries in the final fifteen minutes of the game saw the Roosters justly rewarded for their defensive effort and giving them a victory that they will take plenty out of heading into this match and the subsequent finals.

After an indifferent year, former Origin halfback Mitchell Pearce was instrumental in his side’s win and it was a performance that should have him primed for the business end of the season.

Although it was only the first time since 16 that the Roosters had faced a top eight side, it was the seventh time in the past nine matches that the tri-colours had registered at least 24 points in a game.

Daniel Tupou bagged a double, taking his season tally to eleven tries from fifteen appearances and coupled with Michel Jennings, the pair have posted nine tries from the past five games.

A big loss for the Roosters is the loss of hooker Jake Friend whose position this week will be taken by utility player Mitch Aubusson.

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The Rabbitohs, despite having the better of the match stats, had to work hard for their 21 – 14 victory over a gritty Bulldogs outfit last Thursday night, only taking the lead for the first time inside of the last ten minutes of the match.

In a physical encounter, Rabbitohs forward and Man-of-the-Match Sam Burgess, led the way running for a game high 193 metres, crossing twice and making thirty one tackles, the second highest for the Rabbitohs.

An effort that proves more amazing given Burgess left the field for a period of time with an injury which he has been cleared off, meaning imperatively for the Rabbitohs, he’ll take his place in the line up this week.

Missing though will be suspended halfback Adam Reynolds. Timely for the Rabbitohs, John Sutton makes his return to five-eight which allows Luke Keary to fill the halfback spot.

It was only the second time in the past seven weeks that the Rabbitohs, who aside form the Roosters have the best attack in the competition, were kept to less than 22 points.

With the Roosters also leading the comp defensively, the normally well oiled Rabbitohs attack will have to rediscover its’ spark for this clash.

HEAD TO HEAD

South Sydney recorded an impressive 28 – 8 point win when the two sides last met in the opening round this season.

It was their fourth win from their past six encounters against the Roosters and the third match in succession that the total match score hasn’t surpassed 38 points.

The Roosters might’ve been suffering a premiership hangover first up this season, they did venture to the UK in the off-season for the Club Championship, but they have really found some form in the past month.

The Rabbitohs were travelling sweetly too but the last two weeks haven’t seen them at their absolute best, which they’ll need to produce here given the current form of the Roosters – who have won eight of their last nine at Allianz.

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Sydney Roosters:
Anthony Minichiello, Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Mitchell Aubusson, Sam Moa, Boyd Cordner, Sonny Bill Williams, Aidan Guerra. Interchange: Heath L’Estrange, Isaac Liu, Dylan Napa, Remi Casty
Ins: Heath L’Estrange, Remi Casty
Outs: Jake Friend (chest, indefinite), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (foot, indefinite)
Other unavailables: None

South Sydney Rabbitohs:
Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Kirisome Auva’a, Lote Tuqiri, John Sutton, Luke Keary, George Burgess, Issac Luke, David Tyrrell, Kyle Turner, Chris McQueen, Sam Burgess. Interchange: Jason Clark, Ben Lowe, Luke Burgess, Thomas Burgess, Bryson Goodwin, Joe Picker
Ins: John Sutton, Bryson Goodwin, Joe Picker
Outs: Adam Reynolds (suspension, finals week one)
Other unavailables: Ben Te’o (suspension, finals week two), Beau Champion (wrist, indefinite), Cameron McInness (ankle, indefinite)