Match Preview: Round 17 – Dolphins v Rabbitohs

The match marks the second meeting of the two clubs this season, having faced off in Round 1, a game where both teams swapped home fixtures due to the disruptions caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Adding extra intrigue to the match, the Dolphins will face off against the familiar faces of Euan Aitken and Lachlan Hubner, as well as the club's foundation Head Coach, Wayne Bennett.

The Rabbitohs emerged victorious in Round 1 as 2-point victors in a closely contested match. Currently sitting in ninth, the Dolphins will no doubt be keen to secure a win over their former teammates and coach while also propelling themselves back into the top eight on the competition ladder.

The match also marks a milestone for Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who will run out in his 100th NRL appearance while also making his 50th appearance for the Dolphins.

Team changes

The Dolphins will be without Jack Bostock after a season-ending knee injury, with Junior Tupou to replace Bostock on the wing. Tupou will play on the left wing, making his third appearance for the Dolphins this season. Josh Kerr returns to the bench after a late omission from last week's match, with Aublix Tawha shifting to the extended bench following his debut in round 16. 

The Rabbitohs welcome back Cody Walker at five-eighth and Campbell Graham on the wing, along with Peter Mamouzelos at Hooker, with all three players named in the side following being sidelined with injuries. Their inclusions will see Jack Wighton move back to the centres and Euan Aitken to the second row.

Clash of the week

The round's clash of the week focuses on two back-rowers who were previously teammates and now will face off as opposition, Oryn Keeley and Euan Aitken.

Following a difficult start to the year with a pre-season injury, Keeley now finds himself starting in the Dolphins' second row, with his energy and passion a big part of his game. This smiling assassin has pulled off some big hits in recent weeks and will undoubtedly have the opposition in his sights this week. Keeley is building a reputation as a player who does the hard work and makes the big tackle with a smile. With only 15 NRL appearances, Keeley still has a lot more football to play, but he has stepped up and is showing what he is capable of each week.

Aitken has built a career on reliability. Shifting from the centres to the second row over the course of the 202-game career so far, when given a job, he does it. Only once in his 12 NRL seasons has he averaged under 100 running metres per game. Aitken has also averaged 35 tackles per game over the past two seasons. Both his current and former teammates know what Aitken is capable of, as do both Coaches in Saturday's game.