Rabbitohs v Broncos preview

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Brisbane Broncos
Allianz Stadium - Thursday 7:45pm

Two last-start losers out to keep their Premiership dreams alive.

Following on from a disappointing result last week against Canterbury, the Rabbitohs have mixed news for their clash with the Broncos. Both Issac Luke and Luke Keary are back from suspension, however Greg Inglis has been sidelined with a syndesmosis which will see the fullback spend the remainder of the regular season on the sidelines. Having been comprehensively beaten last Friday, coach Michael Maguire has responded by relegating representative forward Chris McQueen to NSW Cup in place of Chris Grevsmuhl, who returns to first grade after a two-match stint with North Sydney. In their first match of 2015, South Sydney obliterated Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium; now with only two matches left until the finals players, coaches and supporters alike will be keen to see where his side is placed as the Rabbitohs look to become the first club in two decades to secure consecutive Premierships.

While they were unable to get the result they were after against the Roosters last week, the Broncos will take plenty of confidence into Thursday night's fixture. Coach Wayne Bennett has opted to retain the same side that went down 12-10 at the same venue, however don't be surprised to see Lachlan Maranta and Jack Reed feature in the side as late inclusions. In recent years, the Broncos have struggled against South Sydney losing their past four encounters dating back to 2013, however they have only lost once at the Sydney Football Stadium back in their inaugural 1988 season. Corey Oates will play his 50th game for the Broncos after debuting back in 2013.

Last meeting: Round 1 2015 - Brisbane Broncos 6 South Sydney Rabbitohs 36

Who to watch: With Greg Inglis missing, look for halfback Adam Reynolds to play a major role in leading the Rabbitohs to victory. Closing in on a century of appearances for the Red and Green's, Reynolds will have to take responsibility for setting the pace for South Sydney with a strong kicking game to limit the impact of the Broncos. Having missed a large portion of the season through injury, Reynolds will be eager to secure a top four finish which will be of vital importance if the Rabbitohs are to make an impact in the finals.

Having been questioned for a poor first-up performance against South Sydney back in March, Anthony Milford has responded in the best possible way by guiding the Broncos to potentially their first minor premiership in 15 years. Renown for his ability to provide an attacking spark anywhere on the field, Milford's combination with Ben Hunt has been a major factor in the Broncos resurgence. Set to feature in his first NRL finals campaign, Milford may well prove to be the X-Factor Brisbane need to claim their first Grand Final since 2006.

The favourite: Opting to remain in Sydney this week, the Broncos are expected to account for the Rabbitohs despite going down last week.

My tip: It is said that a loss can reveal more about a side than a win; from that logic you would have to think that the Broncos are almost ready to make a major play for the 2015 Premiership. Broncos by 10.

1. Alex Johnston 2. Joel Reddy 3. Dylan Walker 4. Kirisome Auva'a 5. Bryson Goodwin 6. Luke Keary 7. Adam Reynolds 8. George Burgess 9. Issac Luke 10. David Tyrrell 11. Glenn Stewart 12. John Sutton 13. Kyle Turner
Interchange: 14. Jason Clark 15. Chris Grevsmuhl 16. Tim Grant 17. Thomas Burgess

1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. Dale Copley 4. Justin Hodges 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Sam Thaiday 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mitchell Dodds 16. Jo Ofanhengaue 17. Kodi Nikorima

Referees: Matt Cecchin, Gavin Morris; Sideline Officials: Russell Turner, Chris Sutton; Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten;

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