South Sydney winger Braidon Burns has enlisted Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds to help him under the high ball ahead of Sunday's NRL clash with Penrith.
Burns was left bamboozled by Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary's torpedo bombs the last time the two sides met, as the Rabbitohs scraped home with a 21-20 win in round six.
Against his former club, Burns made three errors and let the ball bounce on a number of occasions -- twice giving Penrith the field position for tries.
It prompted the 20-year-old to seek out his own halfback to help with the issue, which he hoped would leave him well equipped for Sunday's match.
"It was something I needed to work on and that game helped me work that out," Burns said.
"Renno is a really good kicker.
"I've had him after training giving them to me and I'm really confident of taking them this time around."
Burns is under no illusion as to what wing the Panthers will be targeting at ANZ Stadium on Sunday -- his right one.
A centre in the under-20s at Penrith, Burns was already well aware of Cleary's ability to put up a high ball before they clashed in April.
"I had a chat to him (after) and he said as soon as I dropped that first one they were going to come at me," Burns said.
Which makes the opening minutes of Sunday's match so important in Burns' eyes.
"I'm expecting that first kick," he said.
"Hopefully I take the first one this time around."
Burns hasn't been the only person to be found out by Cleary's boot this season.
The towering bombs have become a hallmark of his game, and Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston admitted sometimes it was hard to ignore negativity as the ball hung in the air for up to five seconds.
"Sometimes, to be honest, you see it coming down and you're thinking 'don't' drop it'," Johnston said.
Souths will welcome back captain Sam Burgess from a glute injury, with the Englishman on Thursday declaring himself a certain starter.
But with the Rabbitohs needing at least seven wins from their 10 remaining regular-season games to play finals, Burgess stressed they weren't at a must-win stage yet.
"I wouldn't say it's do or die yet; we're trying not to get too carried away with that," he said.
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