South Sydney hooker Cameron McInnes expects teammate and influential halfback Adam Reynolds to make his return this Friday night against reigning premiers North Queensland.
Reynolds has missed the past five weeks after breaking his jaw on the hip of Roosters prop Kane Evans in the Rabbitohs' season-opening clash.
Reynolds is expected to be named alongside Luke Keary to play the Cowboys in a time of need for the Rabbitohs who have lost three of the four past four games.
Cody Walker will be the unlucky man out in this case and likely won't play this weekend with Intrust Super Premiership outfit North Sydney one of four teams scheduled to have a bye.
"[Reynolds] has been training very well and I think he is right to go. He's a great player Adam but in saying that Cody and Luke are great players as well. They'd be the starting halves in any other team," McInnes told NRL.com.
"We're pretty blessed to have three great halves in our system. Obviously Reyno is a great player with a great kicking game and a big leader in our team.
"[But deciding between Reynolds' halves partner is] probably one of the easier things for [coach Michael Maguire] at the moment. That's a good headache to have, any coach would say that, because good halves are hard to come by."
McInnes has grown a leg throughout the season in Reynolds absence but the 22-year-old insists it hasn't been a matter of him picking up any extra responsibility without the halfback around.
"I've just been mindful of myself. I want to grow every week and I want to become that player who is doing everything right. Regardless of who is playing in the halves that's the goal for me," McInnes said.
"I haven't progressed maybe as much as I have wanted either. I'm happy with the way I've been playing to a degree but there's so much more I want to do and so much more I need to do for the team.
"We're all a part of this team and there's plenty of little things we can do to help each other. I've still got a few things I really need to improve on."
McInnes also expects George and Tom Burgess to stand up against the Cowboys pack following their disappointing showing in the Souths' 17-10 loss to the Roosters last Friday night.
The twins combined for a mere 48 minutes on the field against the Tricolours.
"In terms of are they are okay, they're fine. Their minutes is up to Madge and that's the way he sees the game going but the thing about the twins is that they're so hungry for success," McInnes said.
"We're all disappointed with last week but they'll come out firing for sure. They'll definitely need to, we can't let the Cowboys have a sniff because if we do it won't be a good night for us.
"It's up to us to really take it to them and I'm excited for the physical challenges ahead," McInnes added.
Playing smarter and exhibiting more effort is crucial for South Sydney's hopes of a form turnaround according to McInnes.
"The overall effort [has been lacking]. It's not something you can coach, it's just from within. We need to as a playing group ask more of each other," he said.
"We're not far off clicking and it's going to be exciting when we're playing the way we know we can because the last month or so we haven't been."
