June 19, 2008

GOLD Coast believes South Sydney is planning to pull a white rabbit out of the hat in the form of star signing Craig Wing.

Wing has been sidelined since round 1 after dislocating his left shoulder in a controversial third man tackle by Sydney Roosters hooker Riley Brown and has not been named for Monday night's danger game at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

However, a wary Titans squad senses the Bunnies, who sit last on the NRL ladder with just two wins in 2008 following last year's drought-breaking finals appearance, have a surprise up their sleeve.

Co-captain Luke Bailey and former Bunnies skipper Ash Harrison both declared the Titans were bracing for Wing to resurface after a three-month absence.

"There was definitely talk at the start of the week that he (Wing) was a good chance of playing," Bailey said.

"He's definitely a guy they've missed. Regardless how long he's been out, he's a quality player."

Equal competition leaders, Gold Coast have disclosed a plan to "start afresh" from the halfway mark of the season, and keep the destiny of their maiden finals bid in their own keeping.

That quest continues on Monday night in a game dubbed a "promoter's nightmare", with just a sprinking of Bunnies fans expected at the 90,000-seat Homebush venue.

The lack of hype mirrors the lead-up to losses the Gold Coast suffered against the Roosters and Rabbitohs last year - two winnable games that came back to bite the NRL newcomers.

"It's going to be an ordinary night, not too many fans, just an aggressive Souths side that wants to prove a few people wrong," Bailey said.

"It will be one of our bigger games of the year. We play well in front of a packed house, but this is a big challenge for us.

"I'm looking for a bigger game myself."

Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson has denied Wing would return, saying he would be rested for another week.