South Sydney fans will get their first look at Cody Walker, likely Rabbitohs playmaker with Adam Reynolds for round one of the new NRL season, when the club look to defend their Auckland Nines title this weekend.
Walker is considered a shoe-in to replace suspended five-eighth Luke Keary in the halves for their season-opener on March 6 against arch rivals the Sydney Roosters.
Walker, 26, was recruited from Melbourne to Redfern last year following a breakthrough 2013 season when he was named Queensland Cup player of the year.
He is yet to make his NRL debut but that should come against the Roosters. First, however, he'll look to impress as part of a weaker 18-man squad to the one that claimed last year's Nines crown.
Coach Michael Maguire has chosen to leave out big-name stars Greg Inglis, Luke Keary, Sam and George Burgess, and Reynolds.
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Former captain John Sutton will lead the side, which features new signings Michael Oldfield, Damien Cook and Hymel Hunt.
Rabbitohs' Nines squad: Alex Johnston, Michael Oldfield, Bryson Goodwin, Ed Murphy, Cameron McInnes, Cody Walker, Damien Cook, John Sutton (capt), Tom Burgess, Kyle Turner, Jason Clark, Paul Carter, Chris Grevsmuhl, John Olive, Kirisome Auva'a, Hymel Hunt, Jack Gosiewski, Zane Musgrove.
