In the red corner are the red hot Rabbitohs, who are coming off last week's 38-0 annihilation of Parramatta.
Souths have caught fire over the past month, piling on 94 points in their previous two matches and averaging 37 over their past five games.
The Bunnies have to get by without Latrell Mitchell for the rest of the season, but they provided compelling evidence against the Eels that they have the players ready to step up.
In the blue corner are the Storm, who welcomed back their big guns last week and kept hold of second spot after brushing aside a slumping Manly.
The minor premiership is still within Melbourne's reach but they're going to need competition leaders Penrith to slip up in the run to the finals.
Match: Rabbitohs v Storm
Round 17 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
7th Position
away Team
Storm
2nd Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Rabbitohs: Dane Gagai was ruled out after training on Thursday and his place taken by Steven Marsters. Apart from that South Sydney are 1-17 after Jed Cartwright and Troy Dargan were the two players dropped from the squad an hour before kick-off.
Alex Johnston has been cleared to return from a head knock at fullback with Latrell Mitchell gone for the season with a hamstring injury. Ky Rodwell was the other player omitted from the squad on Thursday.
Storm: Kenny Bromwich returns from a calf injury and will start in the second row. As a result, Chris Lewis drops back to the interchange bench. Sandor Earl and Aaron Pene were the two players omitted an hour before the game.
Brenko Lee replaces Marion Seve (knee, season) at centre. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will start at lock with Nelson Asofa-Solomona out with a calf strain.
The other player omitted 24 hours before kick-off was Max King.
Match: Rabbitohs v Storm
Round 17 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Alex JohnstonFullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Corey AllanWinger for Storm is number 2 Isaac Lumelume
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Campbell GrahamCentre for Storm is number 3 Brenko Lee
-
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 19 Steven MarstersCentre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
-
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson PauloWinger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
-
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody WalkerFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
-
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam ReynoldsHalfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita TatolaProp for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
-
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Storm is number 9 Cameron Smith
-
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas BurgessProp for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Jaydn Su'a2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Bayley Sironen2nd Row for Storm is number 21 Kenneath Bromwich
-
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron MurrayLock for Storm is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Mark NichollsInterchange for Storm is number 12 Chris Lewis
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Liam KnightInterchange for Storm is number 14 Nicholas Hynes
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick MagoInterchange for Storm is number 16 Albert Vete
-
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Keaon KoloamatangiInterchange for Storm is number 17 Darryn Schonig
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
Key match-up
Cody Walker v Cameron Munster. Nothing better than a Friday night heavyweight showdown featuring mouth-watering match-ups all over the park. There's Cook v Smith and Reynolds v Hughes, but it could be a late-game piece of magic from Walker or Munster that proves decisive.
Walker has rediscovered his best form in recent weeks and re-formed a lethal combination with halves partner Adam Reynolds, while the mercurial Munster is returning from injury and will no doubt be relishing his head-to-head duel with Walker.
Stat attack
This is the second meeting between Souths and Melbourne this season. The Storm won that round four clash on home soil 22-8 after leading 8-6 at half-time. Adam Reynolds tied it up at 8-8 with a 50th-minute penalty goal but they were the only points in the second half for the visitors.
In their only meeting last year, Melbourne beat the Bunnies 26-16 at Central Coast Stadium. Souths had a chance to steal victory after a late fightback but Brodie Croft scored a 75th-minute try to clinch Melbourne's win. Campbell Graham scored all three of the Rabbitohs' tries.
