BFF's reunite... Prince and Marshall will heat up Skilled Park. Brett Costello

By The Adjudicator
foxsports.com.au
September 02, 2010

With a reputation of lifting for big matches, The Adjudicator is casting aside his average form for a send-off in front of his adoring home crowd, before setting off on his finals campaign.

Not for the first time in my storied career I fell prey to trying to please the masses. What was I thinking backing the one-half wonders from Seaforth and doubting the rock-solid home hoodoo of Endeavour Field? I have no choice but to blame you, the people, for polluting my otherwise pure tipping thoughts.

Even the best tipsters in this caper have bad weeks though and despite matching yours truly with a 50 per cent success rate, David Boutros was able to keep enough distance between himself and the chasing pack with the finish line growing ever closer.

VENUE & TIME: WIN Jubilee Oval, Sun, September 5, 7.00pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 15 – Dragons 12, Rabbitohs 3
LAST TIME: Round 19, 2010 – Dragons 16-13

WALKING WOUNDED: St George-Illawarra have no fresh injury concerns meaning they have an unchanged line-up, although coach Wayne Bennett has kept the Rabbitohs guessing by naming an eight-man bench. With the minor-premiership already sewn up it would come as no surprise if the Dragons coach opted to rest a couple of his key men to have them fresh for the finals. The Rabbitohs have lost another forward to injury with lock Jason Clark picking up a hamstring injury in last weekend's win over the Eels. The positive for the Bunnies is the return of back-rower Eddy Pettybourne from suspension.

FORM:The Dragons put an indifferent month of form behind them to hold off a fast-finishing Knights side in Newcastle last weekend to clinch the minor-premiership for the second year in a row. They have once again proved to be the most consistent and best defensive team in the NRL, but their true test is still to come. The Rabbitohs kept their faint finals hopes alive by edging out the Eels last weekend but it was hardly a performance that will strike fear into the competition's leading sides. John Lang's troops made a host of sloppy errors against Parramatta in an abject display, their only saving grace being that the Eels were even worse.

WHO'S HOT:He may not have the big name or reputation of some of his team-mates but there's no doubt the Dragons are a much more potent force with Nathan Fien in their side. Injury has seen Fien make just five appearances this season but the crafty hooker provides the Red and Whites with more creativity in attack and he may well be the x-factor in the club's push to end their 31-year premiership drought. The Rabbitohs had few standouts last time out but in teenager Dylan Farrell they look to have a real star of the future. The young centre has filled in brilliantly for the injured Beau Champion, crossing for four tries in as many top grade appearances.

WE THINK:This match could well be a dead rubber by the time kick-off rolls around with the Rabbitohs relying on either Canberra or Manly losing their games earlier in the weekend to have any chance of sneaking into the top eight. If their season is still alive then you can expect South Sydney to be in this contest right up to their necks for the full 80 minutes. But if it's only pride on the line then the Dragons should continue their recent dominance over the Rabbitohs, having won eight of the last 10 encounters between the two proud clubs.

TEAMS:
St George Illawarra Dragons: Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby [c], Neville Costigan, Dean Young, Michael Weyman, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Nathan Fien, Trent Merrin, Matt Prior, Jarrod Saffy, Nick Emmett, Kyle Stanley, Jon Green, Luke Priddis (four to be omitted).

South Sydney Rabbitohs: Rhys Wesser, Nathan Merritt, Colin Best, Dylan Farrell, Fetuli Talanoa, Luke Capewell, Chris Sandow, Sam Burgess, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi [c], Eddy Pettybourne, David Taylor, Michael Crocker. Interchange: Jaiman Lowe, Shannan McPherson, Dave Tyrrell, Jamie Simpson.