Former South Sydney international Les Davidson has declared Dave Taylor is the man to ease the Rabbitohs' injury crisis up front.

With Sam Burgess' chances of returning to the NRL this year now under a cloud, and big men Luke Stuart and Scott Geddes already ruled out for the season, the Bunnies are facing a prop forward shortage.

Captain Roy Asotasi and recovered enforcer Ben Ross are Souths' only first grade props, but Davidson spoke out in support of Taylor's ability to solve the problems in the engine room.

Taylor had his breakout season playing prop for Brisbane in 2009, with his rampaging running game seeing the Broncos topple heavyweights St George Illawarra and lift all the way into the preliminary finals.

While the Queenslander's skilful touch and promising combination with Greg Inglis makes him well suited to playing out wide in the back row, there is a theory he can go missing from games.

One of the club's greatest front rowers Davidson says moving Taylor into the middle of the field at prop would maximise his involvement and benefit to the team.

"I've no doubt big Dave Taylor could handle it, he's built like a front rower, he's just a bit quicker," the former Australia and NSW hardman told AAP.

"If you make his game really simple ... he's big, he's strong, he's fast, so if he hits the line he's just going to suck that many players in and that'll open up things a little bit wider for them.

"I wouldn't go past Davey Taylor going in there."

Coach Lang has left Taylor in the second row for Friday's must-win clash with Cronulla, and bench backrower Eddy Pettybourne is reportedly in line to make the move up front.

But Davidson says the Rabbitohs need to get things right in the front row if they're to turn their season around, and with the might of Burgess gone for at least six weeks, he called on Taylor to be considered.

"It's going to be hard to replace him, if Sam Burgess goes missing you certainly notice him," he said.

"(Burgess) is tremendous, the amount of work he gets through is incredible.

"A whole lot of things need to be working for them to be winning games so if they can touch up on a few things they'll be right."

The rest of Burgess' 2011 season remains in doubt after scans on the star's injured left ankle proved inconclusive.

The Englishman had an MRI scan on Sunday which was unable to fully determine the extent of the damage.

Initial fears indicated Burgess had suffered a syndesmosis injury which would require surgery and a four month stint on the sidelines.

In a statement, the Rabbitohs said Burgess will now need an arthroscope on the ankle to tidy the area up enough to establish whether his season is over.

"Sam will miss at least six weeks of football following the arthroscope and this time period will be revised once the total damage to his ankle has been determined," the club said.

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