State of Origin star Latrell Mitchell has been left out of South Sydney's final line-up for the clash with Wests Tigers and will be replaced by rookie Blake Taaffe at fullback.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed outside back Braidon Burns will replace Benji Marshall on the bench for Sunday's clash with the Bulldogs because the veteran is stuck in Sydney.
Round 18 Late Mail
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs, Sunday 6.15pm at Cbus Super Stadium
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell has failed to back up after State of Origin and will be replaced at fullback by Blake Taaffe in the final 17. Peter Mamouzelos is 18th man.
Mitchell's fellow Origin stars - Cameron Murray, Damien Cook and Dane Gagai - will take the field against the bottom side after strutting their stuff on Wednesday night at Cbus Super Stadium.
Veteran Benji Marshall - who is stranded in Sydney - has been replaced on the bench by outside back Braidon Burns.
Jaxson Paulo and Josh Mansour were omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Winger Taane Milne (high tackle) and prop Liam Knight (dangerous contact) both took early guilty pleas to charges arising from the clash against the Cowboys and will play.
Mark Nicholls will make his 100th NRL appearance.
Bulldogs: Jayden Okunbor and Ofahiki Ogden come into the match-day 17 with Okunbor replacing rookie winger Falakiko Manu, who is 18th man, and Ogden taking the bench spot of Joe Stimson, who drops out of the final squad.
Renouf Atoni was omitted on Saturday and his place in the starting side taken by Matt Doorey, who returns from a head knock. Doorey will start in the second row with Josh Jackson reverting to lock.
Kyle Flanagan was the other player to drop out of the extended squad 24 hours from kick-off.
Ava Seumanufagai, returning from a one-game suspension incurred against Manly in round 16, will start on the interchange.
Jeremy Marshall-King still has one more match to serve of the suspension he incurred against the Sea Eagles.
The Bulldogs have lost their past eight games in Queensland.
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