VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Sunday, March 14, 3.05pm (AEDT).
COVERAGE: Channel 9
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 199 – Rabbitohs 105, Roosters 89, Drawn 5.
LAST TIME: Round 20, 2010 – Rabbitohs 40-20.
MATCH ODDS: Luxbet: Souths $1.55, Roosters $2.45
WALKING WOUNDED: As you would expect in week one, no real injury concerns for either side. Braith Anasta, who returns after breaking his ankle in June, says he hasn't had this long a break between games since he was four. He is no certainty to last the distance first game up. Prop Jason Ryles has recovered from a quad injury and will start up front.
FORM: They say talking-up trial form is like boasting to mates about your sex life with your wife. In other words, it counts for little in the credibility department. Both clubs looked sharp-ish in pre-season matches but that will mean nothing come 3.05pm Sunday. Expect the Rabbitohs to possible gel a little quicker than the Chooks.
WHO'S HOT: All red and green eyes will be on big off-season purchases Sam Burgess and Dave Taylor. Both players, especially Englishman Burgess, arrived at Redfern to great fanfare but now must deliver when the heat is on. Bunnies fans are expecting big things this year, largely due to these two monsters joining the pack. Roosters supporters will be particularly interested in Todd Carney's performance after a summer learning the fullback craft following a career spent at half or five-eighth. It's an interesting positional switch by that master of intrigue, Brian Smith, but will it work?
WE THINK: The Roosters will improve on last year – how could they not? – but don't expect miracles They still appear light on in a number of areas and if a couple of key players get hurt, they will finish closer to 16th than first. They look a solid unit ahead of this first round clash but surely the Bunnies will have their measure. There is a lot to like about John Lang's men (on paper at least) and they look to have too much class across the park for the Chooks. Expect it to be close for about an hour before Souths' strikepower cuts loose. Souths by 14
TEAMS:
Rabbitohs: Rhys Wesser, Nathan Merritt, Colin Best, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi , Eddy Pettybourne, David Taylor, Sam Burgess.
Interchange: Scott Geddes, Shannan McPherson, Ben Lowe, Jason Clark.
Roosters: Todd Carney, Anthony Minichiello, Phil Graham, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta, Mitchell Pearce, Lopini Paea, James Aubusson, Jason Ryles, Tom Symonds, Mitchell Aubusson, Nate Myles.
Interchange: Aidan Guerra, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Ben Jones, Nick Kouparitsas, Daniel Conn (one to be omitted).