Tipped by many to be a premiership contender in 2023 the Rabbitohs find themselves in a scrap just to make the top eight and they face a danger game against old foes the Dragons.
With Latrell Mitchell back on deck and the Sharks seemingly on the slide, Souths were expected to prevail in Perth and stay in the hunt for a top-four spot - instead they were blown off the park for the first hour and slid to eighth spot after a 10-point loss.
Having lost to the Dragons in Round 15 in a high-scoring shootout the Rabbitohs will be on high alert in Cairns as they look to steady the ship before facing the Knights and Roosters in their final two matches.
The Dragons, meanwhile, have pushed Manly and Parramatta to the limit in the past fortnight and were left fuming after some crucial calls went against them in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Eels.
With Ben Hunt at peace with the world and steering the ship in style, Tyrell Sloan electric at the back and Mikaele Ravalawa scoring tries for fun, the Dragons look more than capable of springing some upsets in the run to the wire.
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Team news
Rabbitohs: The Rabbitohs are 1-17 with no late changes. Shaquai Mitchell takes over at prop from the suspended Thomas Burgess. Forward Jai Arrow has been cleared to play despite suffering back spasms in Perth. Jacob Host comes into the back row at the expense of Michael Chee Kam while Taane Milne regains his place on the wing after being 18th Man last week.
Dragons: The Dragons are 1-17 with no late changes. Prop Francis Molo is out after displaying category one concussion symptoms following a head clash against the Eels so brother Michael moves to the front row, Ben Murdoch-Masila is the new lock and Toby Couchman is added to the bench. Centre Moses Suli is back on deck after missing the Eels game with a calf injury and Max Feagai also comes into the centres with Zac Lomax sidelined by a shoulder injury. Jack Bird has also suffered a shoulder injury and will consult a specialist.
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Stat Attack
- Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored 18 tries in 17 games in 2023. His previous best haul in a season was 14 in 2021.
- Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston leads the NRL in line breaks with 29 and has scored 16 tries in his last 12 games.
- The Dragons have lost seven games by six points or less in 2023.
- The Dragons are aiming for three straight wins over the Rabbitohs for the first time since 2010-11.
- The Rabbitohs have conceded over 30 points in six of their past 10 games.
- The Rabbitohs have won only one of their past four games in Cairns.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .