South Sydney have the best pack in the NRL - just ask them.

In a move sure to put a target on the head of every red and green forward, boom recruit Dave Taylor claimed the addition of himself, Englishman Sam Burgess and former Cronulla prop Ben Ross had given the Rabbitohs a pack which is the envy of the competition.

Throw that trio in with the returning Roy Asotasi, Luke Stuart, Michael Crocker and the emerging Eddy Pettybourne and Shannan McPherson, and Taylor can obviously see the potential out Redfern way.

But Taylor's boast comes with the new-look Bunnies yet to play a regular-season game together, the crowing sure to have the Sydney Roosters fired up for what was already going to be a fiercely-contested local derby at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

Asked if the Rabbitohs had the best pack in the NRL, Taylor said:

"I'd say so, yes.

"The way we've gelled this year, we've come together, we've bonded really well and everyone's just enjoying being here and being on the training paddock.

"It's going to be good when everyone gets on track, when Ben Ross gets back, he should be good to go around the round five mark with Michael Crocker coming back (as well). When we get everyone back, we're going to be a great pack.

"...if we can just gel on the field we're going to be the pack to beat."

While Taylor's optimistic outlook may be seen as a touch cocky by some, there is some well-founded reasoning to his claim.

It's not so long ago that Asotasi was labelled the best prop in the game, while Burgess showed his potential when he carved up the Australian side during the Four Nations tournament in England at the back end of last year.

Then there's Taylor, who became a one-man wrecking crew for Brisbane last season when moved to the edge of the ruck midway through the campaign.

"I played a lot of front row at the Broncos so I didn't find myself out wide where I enjoy playing - that was one thing that I struggled with at the Broncos, being in the middle and not having much room to run around," Taylor said of his late-season resurgence.

"I think I found my spot out wide now and I'm really enjoying it so that's where I'm playing good football.

"It's going to be a little bit difficult (replicating it, but) the staff here have given me every confidence that I can do it again this year."

Confidence is something the Bunnies seem to have by the bucketload this year, with five-eighth John Sutton admitting spirits had never been so high in his time at the club.

Sutton and halves partner Chris Sandow stand to benefit most from the platform laid by the imposing pack, Sutton dismissing claims the pair were under pressure to turn forward dominance into points.

"If they're going forward it means me and Chris can perform," Sutton said.

"It's probably the most confident I've felt since I've been here, just with the talent we've got now with the forward pack to lead us."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP