South Sydney will be without fullback Alex Johnston for Thursday’s NRL clash with the Wests Tigers because of bone bruising in his leg.

Corey Allan will wear the cardinal and myrtle No.1 jersey at Bankwest Stadium after Johnston failed to train with his team at Redfern Oval on Wednesday.

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said the injury wasn’t serious and hoped to have Johnston back against Manly in a fortnight, after their round 16 bye.

“Alex’s legs got pretty sore from the last game he played, he’s got a bit of bruising on the bone there,” Bennett said.

“We decided not to play him. It’s not bad, he’s just not 100 per cent right.”

Bennett confirmed Adam Reynolds will return from a back fracture after the halfback returned to training last week.

Reynolds has been absent for the past fortnight after suffering the injury during the Rabbitohs’ round 12 loss to Parramatta.

“He played with it, that was the crazy part about it,” Bennett said.

“That happened in the first 10 minutes of the game and he stayed out there the whole game.

“I could see he was restricted, I didn’t know what was going on. He never said anything to us at halftime.

“It’s just an injury that will be determined by pain, if he can put up with the pain, he’ll be right to play again.

“He’s tolerating the pain now and he feels good and confident.”

Meanwhile, skipper Sam Burgess has failed in his attempt to prove himself fit just three weeks after undergoing shoulder surgery.

He was named in an extended squad but is now hopeful of being back to face the Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium on July 13.