Wests Tigers will take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs this Friday night at ANZ Stadium as they look to continue their good run of form under Coach Ivan Cleary.
Having already triumped over the Rabbitohs back in Round 1, Cleary's side will be looking to repeat the performance this Friday as both teams celebrate the NRL's Indigenous Round.
Wests Tigers will come into the match without captain Aaron Woods, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Cronulla Sharks in Round 9 — ruling him out of the ANZAC Test.
He is replaced in the starting side by Sauaso Sue, with young gun JJ Felise coming on to the interchange bench in jersey 17 after playing his first game of 2017 against the Sharks.
David Nofoaluma (knee) was also under some doubt for the match after pulling out of the Samoa Pacific Test, but has been named and is expected to play come Friday.
Having not featured since Round 7 with a hamstring injury, Jamal Idris will be unavailable for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL. The news is much better for Tim Grant (illness) and James Tedesco (concussion), who have both been named to play.
Malakai Watene-Zelezniak rounds out the extended squad for Wests Tigers, and could become Wests Tigers Player #202 should he make his Club debut on Friday night against South Sydney.
Despite rumours that South Sydney would name Cody Walker at fullback, John Sutton in the halves and Alex Johnston on the wing, Coach Michael Maguire has named the expected lineup for Friday's clash, with Walker parting Adam Reynolds in the halves and Sutton named in the back row alongside Angus Crichton, while Johnston has been named at fullback.
Braidon Burns replaces Robert Jennings on the wing in the only change to the team, while Aaron Gray could be in line for his return from injury after being named as part of the reserves.
Robbie Farah, Jason Clark, Zane Musgrove and Cameron Murray make up the bench.
See all the in's and out's for both teams ahead of Friday's match below!
Be there to cheer us on this Friday as we take on the Rabbitohs in our Indigenous jerseys!
WESTS TIGERS
In's | Jack Littlejohn, Justin Hunt, Kyle Lovett, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Tim Grant
Out's | Aaron Woods
Unavailable | Jamal Idris (knee), Aaron Woods (hamstring), Matt Ballin (knee)
1. James Tedesco
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Michael Chee Kam
4. Moses Suli
5. Kevin Naiqama
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Luke Brooks
8. Sauaso Sue
9. Matt McIlwrick
10. Ava Seumanufagai
11. Joel Edwards
12. Chris Lawrence (capt.)
13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange:
14. Tim Grant
15. Josh Aloiai
16. Jacob Liddle
17. JJ Felise
Reserves:
18. Kyle Lovett
19. Justin Hunt
20. Jack Littlejohn
21. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
Coach: Ivan Cleary
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
In's | Aaron Gray, Anthony Cherrington, Braidon Burns, Robbie Rochow, Tyrrell Fuimaono
Out's | Robert Jennings
Unavailable | Greg Inglis (knee), Jack Gosiewski (knee), George Burgess (suspension)
1. Alex Johnston
2. Braidon Burns
3. Siosifa Talakai
4. Hymel Hunt
5. Bryson Goodwin
6. Cody Walker
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Thomas Burgess
9. Damien Cook
10. Kyle Turner
11. John Sutton
12. Angus Crichton
13. Sam Burgess (capt.)
Interchange:
14. Robbie Farah
15. Jason Clark
16. Zane Musgrove
17. Cameron Murray
Reserves:
18. Anthony Cherrington
19. Robbie Rochow
20. Tyrell Fuimaono
22. Aaron Gray
Coach: Michael Maguire
