South Sydney forward Sam Burgess is confident he'll be fit to make his NRL return on Friday, but his fate will once again be determined by a machine later in the week.

The English international thought he was a certain starter for last Friday's win over Manly, but the computer said no.

Now before the Wests Tigers clash he'll attempt to prove to the machine, which tests strength and endurance, that he has equal ability in both shoulders.

"You basically wrestle a machine and it tests your strength of both your left and right side and then on a percentage it tells you a comparison and how much strength there is between the right and the left," Burgess said.

"I felt like when I'd done the test (last week) that both shoulders were exactly the same. They do a strength test and an endurance test so I felt the same in both sides but obviously the machine said different so we'll see how it feels after the test this week.

"I think I'll play, but that's me, I'm quite stubborn in that respect."

Burgess re-injured the same shoulder he had off-season surgery on in round one, and was told he would miss up to four matches. So a round five return this week would be a promising result for the Rabbitohs, whose lapsing defence will welcome back the tough resolve the 22-year-old brings to the side.

While the giant second rower is busting to make his return, Burgess said the Rabbitohs medical staff aren't in such a hurry and won't let him take any unnecessary risks.

"After this game we get 10 days off before our next game ... there's no rush from the medical staff to get me back this week but I feel good and I'm sure the results will come back that way," he said.

"The shoulder's felt good now for a number of weeks ... I wasn't far off last week.

"I don't want to go back out there when it's not around 100 per cent and risk of further injury.

"I've had problems with my right shoulder and problems with this left one now. They're being extracareful now and I appreciate that."

In a tantalising match-up, Burgess could meet English team-mate Gareth Ellis head on in his return, with the Tigers second rower also aiming to make his long-awaited comeback from injury.

According to for and against the Rabbitohs have the best attack but the worst defence in the competition so far, and Burgess said his side must lift their intensity when the finish line comes within sight.

"I think we need to be a bit more ruthless when we get in front, keep going and driving that nail in," he said.

"But there's some good signs there, I think we're improving, so just got to keep going upwards."

Centre Dylan Farrell has responded well from a partial shoulder dislocation and is expected to play, while fullback Rhys Wesser's hamstring is also progressing well for a Friday return after he missed last week.

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