South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis will miss the remainder of the NRL season after scans confirmed a grade two ankle syndesmosis.

The Test and Queensland Origin representative suffered the ligament injury in Sunday's 22-10 loss to Brisbane, his unavailability a huge blow to the Bunnies who need to beat Newcastle on Friday night to secure a finals berth.

Rabbitohs officials had been hoping for better news after Inglis appeared better than expected at the club's recovery session on Monday despite using crutches and wearing a 'moon boot'.

Five-eighth John Sutton (hand) and fullback Nathan Merritt (quad) will return after missing the Suncorp Stadium defeat as a precaution.

Captain Roy Asotasi (wrist) won't be back before the finals.

Fellow prop Ben Ross is also hobbling but said a minor knee problem wouldn't stop him from playing what could be his last game for the Rabbitohs.

"This morning I woke up and went to go for a surf and my knee was a little bit sore and stiff and I thought I'd better start relaxing a little bit," Ross said.

"I'm feeling OK, a bit of rehab today and I should be fine."

Souths' season was going to come down to the final round even before the loss to the Broncos and Ross said his side had taken plenty out of a game without strike weapons Merritt and Sutton.

"Maybe in a way it's good we had a loss because it makes us hungry to get this win this week and hopefully kick-start us into the semis," Ross said.

The uncontracted former Queensland representative said there was no way he or departing team-mates like Chris Sandow wanted Friday's Ausgrid Stadium clash to be their last for Souths.

"There are a few of us there, if we lose this week it's our last game for South Sydney and there's no way we want that, especially myself," Ross said.

"I don't know where I'm at the moment (for next year). I'll be giving everything because it could be my last game."

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