VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Friday July 10, 7.35pm (AEST).
COVERAGE: Channel 9
LAST TIME: Panthers 26 - Rabbitohs 22 at CUA Stadium, Round 3, 2008

WALKING WOUNDED: The Rabbitohs will be without Origin duo Michael Crocker and Craig Wing for this clash while coach Jason Taylor has drafted centre Beau Champion back into the side at the expense of Luke Capewell, who bagged a hat-trick of tries last weekend against the Tigers. Rhys Wesser is on track for a Round 20 comeback from a chronic knee injury.
Both Trent Waterhouse and Michael Jennings will be required for NSW Origin duty, joining injured stars Petero Civoniceva (toe), Frank Pritchard (broken hand) Luke Lewis (broken toe), Michael Gordon (ankle), Joseph Iosefa (bicep) and Lachlan Coote (shoulder) as Penrith absentees for this match. Geoff Daniela returns from a knee injury on the wing for the Panthers, while former Knight Adam Woolnough (arm) has been named on a six-man bench. Lock Nathan Smith will skipper the club for the first time.

FORM: The Rabbitohs hit rock bottom last Saturday night, leaking no less than 54 points on their way to a horrid 34-point ripping at the claws of the Tigers. There are only a handful of players who look even remotely interested at this club at present and it appears coach Jason Taylor is struggling for answers. Five losses on the trot and a top-eight finish now pretty much out the window.
The Panthers held onto eighth position courtesy of a tit-for-tat 38-34 defeat of neighbours Parramatta at home on Sunday. The timely victory halted a concerning two-match losing streak for a side that was slowly slipping down the ladder.

WHO'S HOT: Michael Jennings' selection in the centres for the Blues in Origin III was a no brainer following his stunning three-try performance against the Eels on Sunday. After missing Origin II with injury, Jennings was keen to show NSW selectors he was ripe for the picking for the Brisbane encounter and he succeeded in the most explosive of circumstances. Unfortunately a gluteus maximus injury sustained in the match has put his Origin recall into slight doubt.

WE THINK: The disappointing Rabbitohs have the perfect opportunity to return to the winners' list with a victory against an extremely undermanned Panthers in this one. No Crocker and Wing will hurt the Bunnies but not to the extent the absence of eight top-liners will damage the prospects of their opponents. The Panthers will field their weakest-looking forward pack for some time and this is where the Roy Asotasi-led Rabbitohs' forwards can lay the foundations for victory. Souths have been rightly smashed on talkback radio and other forms of media during the week and should react accordingly if they are serious about turning things around. Rabbitohs by 4.

TEAMS:
South Sydney Rabbitohs:
1. Nathan Merritt 2. Jamie Simpson 3. Colin Best 4. Beau Champion 5. Fetuli Talanoa 6. John Sutton 7. Chris Sandow 8. Luke Stuart 9. Issac Luke 10. Roy Asotasi (c) 11. Ben Lowe 12. Eddy Pettybourne 13. David Fa'alogo. Interchange: 14. Beau Falloon 15. Shannan McPherson 16. Dave Tyrrell 17. Scott Geddes, 18. Garret Crossman (one to be omitted).

Penrith Panthers:
1. Jarrod Sammut 2. Ben McFadgeon 3. Geoff Daniela 4. Brad Tighe 5. Junior Tia-Kilifi 6. Wade Graham 7. Luke Walsh 8. Tim Grant 9. Paul Aiton 10. Frank Puletua 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Joseph Paulo 13. Nathan Smith. Interchange: 14. Maurice Blair 15. Adam Woolnough 16. Matthew Bell 17. Joel Romelo, 18. Sam McKendry 19. Andrew Emelio (two to be omitted).

Referees: Ben Cummins & Tony De Las Heras