As the Warriors shoot for their fourth win on the trot this Friday, the Rabbitohs are trying to avoid suffering three-straight losses in a season for the first time in over three years.
The New Zealand-based side made light work of the Dragons in Round 17, running in nine tries in a 48-16 victory which lifted them to fifth on the Telstra Premiership ladder.
On Friday night they'll be boosted by a capacity crowd at Go Media Stadium in Auckland, with the chance to win four in a row for the first time since the 2018 season.
Their opponents meanwhile are reeling after a heavy loss to the Cowboys last Sunday which followed defeat at the hands of the bottom-placed Dragons in Round 15.
They've now dropped to eighth and defence has been a major issue, with Jason Demetriou's men having leaked 28 points or more in each of their last five games.
But on a more positive note they possess an excellent recent record against the Warriors, having not lost to them since 2018.
Go back further and the Rabbitohs have won 13 of their last 14 against the Warriors, which includes four wins against them in Auckland.
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Team News
Warriors: Josh Curran dropped out of the squad on Thursday with Mitch Barnett, returning from suspension, coming into the starting side. Freddy Lussick is the new man added to the bench with Brayden Wiliame listed as 18th man.
Rabbitohs: Plenty of changes for the visitors. Campell Graham is a late withdrawal with youngster Tyrone Munro to make his NRL debut in the centres. Isaiah Tass also dropped out of the squad on Thursday, his place in the centres taken by Taane Milne. Siliva Havili returns on the bench after playing NSW Cup last weekend and will start with Damien Cook reverting to the interchange. Tom Burgess also starts with Hame Sele back to the bench.
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Stat Attack
- Rabbitohs wing Alex Johnston leads the NRL in line breaks with 23 and equal first in half breaks with seven.
- Cody Walker has 19 try assists in 15 games this year, putting him just ahead of Shaun Johnson who has 16 in 15 games.
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 10 tries in his last five games.
- The Warriors have not defeated the Rabbitohs in Auckland since 2012.
- The Rabbitohs have won 13 of their past 14 games against the Warriors.
- Rabbitohs left winger Alex Johnston has scored 10 tries in nine games against the Warriors.
- Warriors left winger Marcelo Montoya has scored four tries in his past four games against the Rabbitohs.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the