South Sydney's players have backed the passion of their millionaire owners as the Rabbitohs prepare for an assault on the NRL top eight in a grudge match with Manly on Monday night.

Tensions between the two privately-owned clubs have reached boiling point in recent weeks with Sea Eagles officials declaring Souths co-owners Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court publicity seekers and their club the new silvertails.

Adding to the atmosphere around a huge match, the ninth-placed Rabbitohs can storm into the top eight with a win over second-placed Manly at Telstra Stadium.

Souths co-captain Roy Asotasi brushed aside the comments of Sea Eagles co-owner Max Delmege and chief executive Grant Mayer.

"It's just something we're not too concerned about, we're more focussed on our football," he told AAP.

"They're coming out with whatever they want to say, we're not going to fire back or anything.

"We just play footy and that's all that's going to happen, so that's Manly not us."

Asotasi said the publicity which accompanies the Rabbitohs' bosses wasn't a problem for the players.

"We've got two high profile owners who said they were going to deliver and they did," he said.

"I don't think the players are really too concerned about it, Peter and Russell, they go about their job and they look after the business side and however they conduct themselves is up to them.

"They let us do our footy and we let them do their thing."

Injured Souths co-captain David Kidwell said he backed Crowe's passion "a hundred per cent".

"He's very passionate about the club and he does genuinely care about the players as well," he said.

"It's the whole package with them two, it's not just football orientated, it's about your family life as well and life after football."

Mayer's comment earlier this month that Delmege and partner Scott Penn "do not get swept up in the emotion of running a rugby league club" came as the ABC began airing its "South Side Story" documentary on the privatisation of the Rabbitohs.

Souths players, who attended a special advance screening, said they were finding the show inspiring - and informative.

"Watching the first episode was just interesting for myself, the pride of the league and just knowing how it happened," Asotasi said.

"The boys themselves were pretty excited, we had an advance screening and ... it came out better than we thought.

"To know how it all started and how it got to that situation where it does really excite people, and it re-tells the history of Souths."

Kidwell said the cameras had initially been difficult to get used to but he had been hooked when he got to watch the results.

"It got me wanting more ... you want to find out what's happening next, it's great," he said.

Back on the field, the Rabbitohs will be without powerhouse second-rower David Fa'alogo against Manly after he strained his lower back at training on Saturday.

Manly skipper Matt Orford has not trained all week and is in serious doubt, with hooker Michael Monaghan likely to switch to halfback.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP