Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs preview - 2017 Indigenous Round

Embed from Getty Images

Wests Tigers v South Sydney Rabbitohs Friday 7:50pm at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

Round 1 re-match set to ignite ANZ Stadium in Indigneous Round.

The ladder position of these two sides seems to belie this clash - there's every chance these two could deliver a cracker of a contest on Friday night. Despite sitting 13th and 14th coming into Round 10, the Wests Tigers have been competitive in most of their matches since Jason Taylor was famously dismissed earlier in the season, while the Rabbitohs have surprised many with stoic performances. They're winless since Round 6 - granted - but in there managed to show a spark of form when they pushed Brisbane to the limit in Round 8, losing by just a solitary point.

Looking solely at last starts - the Wests Tigers are the form team. A six point loss to the reigning premiers in a competitive contest at Leichhardt is one the 'home team' tonight will take plenty of confidence from. The away changerooms will have a bit less spirit after a fairly tepid outing in Round 9, an embarrassing 46-8 loss to the Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium only made palatable by the fact the Rabbitohs had a good fortnight to reset and re-assess their footy.

Last meeting: Round 1 2017 - Rabbitohs 18 Wests Tigers 34

This will be the 30th contest between these two sides since the Rabbitohs were readmitted in 2002 (having missed the Wests Tigers' first two seasons). The Rabbitohs have a one-win advantage 15-14 over the 29 matches played so far.

Who to watch: With his future still (officially) undecided, Mitchell Moses needs to keep delivering for the black-and-gold. The Tigers have looked better around the park since Moses' halves partner Luke Brooks has returned from injury, but Moses' input has remained hit and miss, earning him plenty of ire from the supporter base. It will also be interesting to see how the home fans receive James Tedesco after his recently confirmed move to the Roosters - and how he delivers for his current side.

South Sydney get Aaron Gray back for the first time this season and he'll slot straight into the backline. Having had to blood rookies Braidon Burns and Siosifa Talakai after losing Greg Inglis in Round 1 and Gray in the pre-season, his presence will be a welcome one as the Bunnies look to have more experience across the park.

The favourite: Funnily enough the money is with the Rabbitohs, with the Tigers missing outgoing captain Aaron Woods taking backers away from them.

My tip: That awful performance against Manly is hard to get off the mind from Souths. On the back of that and the fact the Tigers took the contest to the Sharks last start, it's them who have my tip. Wests Tigers by 8.

1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 21. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 4. Moses Suli 5. Kevin Naiqama 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Luke Brooks 8. Sauaso Sue 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Ava Seumanufagai 11. Joel Edwards 12. Chris Lawrence 13. Elijah Taylor 3. Michael Chee-Kam 14. Tim Grant 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Jacob Liddle

6. Cody Walker 1. Alex Johnston 5. Bryson Goodwin 4. Hymel Hunt 22. Aaron Gray 11. John Sutton 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 14. Robbie Farah 10. Kyle Turner 19. Robbie Rochow 12. Angus Crichton 13. Sam Burgess 9. Damien Cook 15. Jason Clark 18. Anthony Cherrington 20. Tyrell Fuimaono

Referees: Henry Perenara, Chris James; Sideline Officials: Ricky MacFarlane, Jeff Younis; Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten;