The Rabbitohs will breathe a sigh of relief with Latrell Mitchell avoiding surgery for a serious foot injury which ruled him out of next week's State of Origin decider and threatened to end his NRL season.
Souths' fullback suffered what is believed to be a Linsfrac injury in his left foot early in his club's 32-16 win over Parramatta on Thursday night before playing out the match.
Reports emerged across the weekend that the injury had drawn a line through Mitchell's availability for the Blues chasing their first series win since 2021 and rare bragging rights for a game three in enemy territory.
In Michael Maguire's side named on Sunday, Newcastle centre Bradman Best was named in the vacated spot.
Mitchell had starred in his first appearance for the Blues since 2021 in his state's dominant game two win in Melbourne after posting 34 unanswered points before half time.
Concerns shifted to whether the 27-year-old would feature again in 2024.
On Tuesday, South Sydney confirmed Mitchell has avoided surgery.
"Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell has been reviewed by a surgeon this morning and a decision has been made to manage his left midfoot injury conservatively, meaning he will not require surgery," Souths said.
"Mitchell will get another scan and review in a fortnight's time to ensure the injury is progressing.
"The Rabbitohs will provide further updates at the appropriate time."
After a disastrous start to 2024 the Bunnies have strung together five consecutive wins to sit two points shy of the eighth-placed Cowboys within a gridlock for finals prospects, heading into the pointy end of the home-and-away season.
On Monday, Mitchell expressed his disappointment at facing a period on the sidelines.
"I'm gutted I can't represent New South Wales, but not only that, my precious South Sydney Rabbitohs for the next few weeks," he said in a post to Instagram.
"New South Wales, we've got a job to do, history to create so I'm backing the Blues to get the job done. (To) the boys that are coming in, congratulations.
"All the best my brothers. We bleed blue. Go and get a job done."
