Eels a chance with Souths' injuries
With captain Roy Asotasi (knee) in serious doubt and Michael Crocker considered unlikely to play his first game of 2010 after several off-season operations, the Rabbitohs will rely on all of their depth in the forwards against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
Ben Ross (neck), Eddy Pettybourne (jaw), Ben Lowe (suspended) and Dave Tyrell (eye socket) are already on the sidelines for Souths, who will be looking for a fourth straight win.
The Eels are desperate to notch a second win of 2010, a scenario few saw coming at the start of the season, and should be spurred on by club legend Nathan Hindmarsh co-captaining the side, as he goes past Brett Kenny's record of 265 games for the club.
They will be close to full strength, with only Shane Shackleton (hamstring) and the suspended Joel Reddy on the sidelines.
Reddy's place in the centres has been taken by New Zealand international Krisnan Inu, while coach Daniel Anderson will decide between interchange forwards, Brendan Oake and Justin Horo.
Souths' fullback Rhys Wesser, who will come up against Eels' superstar Jarryd Hayne, said the Rabbitohs were wary of their opponents being stung into action by a mountain of criticism.
"We'd probably prefer no one talking them down because you just don't know if it's going to give them that spark to maybe lift this weekend," he said.
"You just don't know when they're going to turn good.
"Jarryd Hayne at the back can produce anything out of nothing."
Off-contract Wesser has himself begun showing glimpses of the form that made him a Queensland State of Origin player and premiership winner with Penrith under current Rabbitohs' boss John Lang in 2003.
The 31-year-old is on the comeback trail after managing just two appearances for Souths last year because of a knee injury.
"It's feeling good," he said.
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