Latrell Mitchell has been unable to shift Jye Gray out of the fullback role for his first appearance of 2025.
South Sydney have confirmed their squad for Friday night's blockbuster with the old foe in the Roosters with Mitchell named in the number 3 jumper, shy of a fortnight on from coach Wayne Bennett declaring the no.1 jumper was his in-waiting.
The 27-year-old, whose fitness and focus has been lauded on route to a return, comes into the side to face his former club and for the first time July last year after separate injuries either side of the offseason.
He was seen training in the position this week.
Souths are sitting seventh spot with three wins from their opening four games, including a 28-18 win over a depleted reigning premiers in Penrith last Thursday.
Gray has impressed at fullback over the first month of the year, and has seemingly held his position around forced moves in their backline.
Ahead of their round three loss to Cronulla, Bennett stated fullback is Mitchell's "number one position…and he'll be starting at fullback when he comes back".
It appears Alex Johnston's short-lived return from an achilles injury has played a role.
Isaiah Tass has shifted to the left wing in place of the veteran, with Jack Wighton shifting sides for Mitchell in the centres.
"We're definitely happy to have him back in the squad," Wighton said of Mitchell on Tuesday.
"He's such a presence. Having him back in the side it's a big lift for everybody. All we ask is that he does his job to the best of his ability."
The Roosters and Rabbitohs share honours with four wins each from their meetings featuring Mitchell since he crossed over to the latter after the 2019 season.
Souths fell eight points short in the pair's most recent meeting for their final match of 2024 in Mitchell's absence, after he was on the wrong end of a 48-6 flogging in the early rounds of the year.
Wighton told reporters he's not looking at the clash any differently, whether it's against the Roosters or for himself in a slightly new role.
"(I'll) just try and do my job," he said of a move to the right side, later adding "it's NRL; every week should be the same" on meeting the traditional foes.
The club on Monday said they'll make rolling assessments of Alex Johnston after the veteran winger came up short early in his return match from injury last week.
Johnston did not appear after halftime of the 28-18 win against the reigning premiers after suffering what appeared to be a shoulder injury while scoring in the ninth minute of play.
The 30-year-old landed awkwardly diving into the corner before reaching for his left shoulder.
Souths provided an update to say "an upper rib injury" was sustained during the game, adding Johnston is "a week-to-week proposition".
"It's not on the too-serious list", Bunnies coach Wayne Bennett said speaking post match on Thursday.
Johnston, who was playing his first game since an achilles injury ended his 2024 season early last August, made light of the setback writing: "Good to be back, it's been a while I forgot how to dive safely" to social media.
With his early contribution to the scoreboard, Johnston moved with 16 tries of Ken Irvine's all-time tally and is "working with the Rabbitohs medical team to return to the field as soon as possible".
