South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds has been cleared to start the opening NRL game of the season against premiers Sydney Roosters on Thursday, but coach Michael Maguire is still waiting on the fitness of five-eighth Dylan Walker.
Reynolds missed the recent Charity Shield game against St George Illawarra after fullback Greg Inglis fell on his knee at training in the week leading up to that match.
Walker played the Charity Shield but came off during the game and has been battling an ankle syndesmosis injury.
If he doesn’t recover in time, John Sutton, who has been earmarked by Maguire to play lock this season, will return to his old five-eighth role.
“We’ll probably have to wait til tomorrow to completely make my mind up,” Maguire said.
“He (Walker) will do a little bit today, but then it’s obviously how he pulls up tomorrow.
“Probably it’s right up until the Thursday because of the injury that Dylan has got.
“He’s pulling up okay, but we want to make sure he’s right to get through 80 minutes of footy.
“The doctors have to see whether he’s got any impingement in that ankle because it’s obviously going to be a high-intensity game with a lot of speed and Dylan obviously utilises his speed quite well.”
Maguire ruled out Inglis moving to five-eighth and said the Queensland and Kangaroos superstar would remain at fullback.
He confirmed veteran winger Lote Tuqiri would make his first NRL start for the Rabbitohs on Thursday.