Key man . . . John Sutton of the Rabbitohs.
Photo: Getty Images

Sunday, ANZ Stadium, 3pm
Referees: Gavin Badger, Ashley Klein
Head to head: Bulldogs 71, Rabbitohs 62, Drawn 4
Last clash: Bulldogs 14 bt Rabbitohs 12 at ANZ Stadium (Rd 5, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Rabbitohs $3.00, Bulldogs $1.36
FootyTAB: Rabbitohs +8.5 points

The Rabbitohs are making a late charge for the finals, so expect to see them lay everything on the line in this must-win game. They have won three in a row - against the Panthers, Broncos and Roosters - but this is a much bigger challenge. The Bulldogs have been up near the competition lead all season, and won’t have taken kindly to losing 27-8 against the Eels last weekend.

They had not previously lost by more than eight points this season, and they are yet to lose two games in a row. Plus, this game is critically important to them because their position in the all-important top two is under threat. The third-placed Titans are behind them on points differential only.

The Rabbitohs have done poorly against the Bulldogs in recent years, winning only two of the last 13 clashes. They met in round five of this season, when the Bulldogs won 14-12. Before losing to the Eels, the Bulldogs had won five out of six. Their victims were the Broncos, Panthers, Cowboys, Warriors and Titans, while they lost to the Sea Eagles.

The Bulldogs get key defender David Stagg back from injury, while hard man Michael Crocker returns for the Rabbitohs.

Those three recent wins by the Rabbitohs were all in night games, but they should be happy this is a day game, because they have won four out of five times in day games this season. Their kicking game and handling have sometimes been below par at night. The Bulldogs deserve warm favouritism, but if in-form Rabbitohs five-eighth John Sutton fires up for another big one they could put themselves in this game.

RABBITOHS: Nathan Merritt, Jamie Simpson, Colin Best, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (capt), Ben Lowe, Eddy Pettybourne, David Faalogo. Interchange: Craig Wing, Shannan McPherson, Michael Crocker, Scott Geddes, Dave Tyrrell (one to be omitted).

BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts, Brett Kimmorley, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Michael Hodgson, Gary Warburton, Andrew Ryan (capt), David Stagg. Interchange: Chris Armit, Greg Eastwood, Yileen Gordon, Jarrad Hickey