Sam Burgess is adamant the wheels aren't in danger of falling off South Sydney's charge to the NRL finals despite key injuries and losing to competition strugglers in two of their last three matches.
Influential five-eighth John Sutton will have scans on a possible high ankle sprain, which could keep him out for up to six weeks, after joining champion fullback Greg Inglis on the club's injury list.
After going down 22-18 to the battling Dragons and being taught a 30-12 lesson by the flailing Cowboys within three weeks, prop Burgess insisted the Rabbitohs' campaign to end their 42-year premiership drought wasn't falling apart as they contemplated losing top spot on the ladder to the Roosters and a tough schedule ahead.
"Not at all," Burgess said. "We're disappointed to lose the games but we'll assess that (Cowboys) game (on Saturday), we'll take some things from it and just move forward."
"We've got Melbourne on Friday down there so we'll just focus all our energy into that. We certainly won't be dwelling on what's been the last three weeks."
The Rabbitohs were beaten in every category by North Queensland before scoring two tries in the final five minutes to avoid a nil scoreline and Inglis' return cannot come soon enough.
The good news is that may be close.
"He (Inglis) is up and running some. Hopefully (he'll be back) soon," Maguire said.
Brilliantly directed by Johnathan Thurston, the Cowboys appeared to be sparked out of their slump by last week's decision not to renew coach Neil Henry's contract.
Souths coach Michael Maguire was philosophical but said his men couldn't be distracted by losing top spot as they try to re-establish their mojo with five rounds remaining.
"We can't focus about that," he said. "Our focus is obviously performing the way we can.
"There's a lot of footy in front of us and we've got some good games to be played."
Maguire will wait to learn how long Sutton may be missing and, despite the difficult run into the finals with matches against premiership contenders Melbourne, Manly and Canterbury, he was confident his squad had the depth to cope.
"Those sort of things happen and I don't think we were playing to the quality we can when John went off anyway," he said.
"I think we've got some good replacements and John's a big part of us but I've also got some good leaders in Sammy (Burgess) and a few others and I thought just as a team we didn't own up (Saturday) night to what we're capable of doing."
The coach said there was no concerns about Sutton's halves partner Adam Reynolds, who appeared to twist a knee during the game.
