Why your team can/cannot win the title – Rabbitohs

The Bunnies will 'travel' across the city of Sydney on Saturday night to battle their most bitter of arch rivals, the Roosters, for a place in next Sunday evening's 2018 decider.

You couldn't write it, honestly. This is HUGE. The two foundation clubs going head to head with an expected sold out crowd split right down the middle.

Two in form sides looking to end the other's season. Two sets of fans who, this week anyways, cannot stand the sight of each other.

It's a mouth watering clash for the neutrals such as myself, and a game that could shape the year 2018 for fans of both clubs.

The Bunnies scraped through over the Dragons last Saturday night by the narrowest of margins. They'll need to be a LOT better to upset the well rested Roosters.

Here is why they can/cannot win the 2018 Premiership title:

Why Souths can win the premiership:

- Monster pack: The Burgess trio, Angus Crichton, John Sutton and Cam Murray headline an intimidating pack of forwards capable of bashing any side apart on any given day.

If the Souths big men play to their potential, they're the best pack in the game.

If the Souths' middle men win the battle at ANZ Stadium, it's going to be tough for the Roosters' halves to get on top.

This in turn will make it difficult to bring James Tedesco and co into the game.

Pretty simple but it's the most important battle on the field, and one I can't see Souths losing this Saturday night.

- In form stars: Damien Cook is one of the form players of the competition. He has been since the early rounds and has had very few quiet games since.

Adam Reynolds is coming off a game which saw him kick three field goals under huge pressure to take his side to victory in a sudden-death final.

Cody Walker and Anthony Johnston are both at the peak of their powers. John Sutton has arguably never played better footy. Angus Crichton is tearing sides apart.

Greg Inglis hasn't been this impactful and destructive in years.

All of Souths weapons are firing. Probably only Sam Burgess is down on form following two below par performances. If he fires tonight, there could be no stopping Souths.

- Off the cuff footy: I said if it comes to plan B, play what's in front of you footy, then the Roosters are in a good spot. Given the talent on show here at Redfern, I think the Bunnies may actually take the honours here.

Walker, Reynolds, Johnston, Jennings, Cook. All players who can exploit open space and broken field footy at the blink of an eye.

Out of the remaining sides I'd say the Roosters have the best halves, but the Bunnies have the most difficult to contain.

If it comes down to grinding and steering your side round the park, my money is on Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary all day every day, but if this game descends into open field chaos, the Bunnies come out on top.

Why Souths cannot win the premiership:

- Inexperience at this level: The saying goes 'you need to lose one to win one'. Although tonight's clash is not the decider, I believe it applies here.

Anthony Siebold has never coached in this environment before. He's having a wow of a year and is the lock for coach of the year in my mind, but he is up against title-winning coaches with mountains of finals experience.

Cody Walker and Damien Cook have had incredible seasons but are yet to play at this end of the season.

Last week they were overawed by the Dragons. They were good enough to claw it back late, but their opponents tomorrow are far better equipped to take down a wobbly red and green outfit should they follow the same pattern as last Saturday night.

- Pressure: They say when South Sydney is playing well, rugby league is going well. Make no mistake, the Bunnies are the NRL;s poster side. I say that with no malice but complete truth.

The Bunnies winning the title in 2018 is the ultimate fairy tale. They have the largest supporter base of the remaining sides, possibly the NRL.

Flags are up, shops are decorated and the pressure is on.

Every side is under pressure, obviously, but the weight of expectation is at another level for the famous red and green.

Reynolds was immense last week against the Dragons, but he'll have a Roosters' pack gunning for him tomorrow night. It's a different world in this contest.

There aren't many reasons why the Bunnies can't win the title ... just 17 or so tri-coloured monsters hell bent on ending the season of their most bitter rivals.

Sign me up!!!