South Sydney are expecting Parramatta to "be at their very best" in Saturday's elimination final despite some well-documented defensive woes and backline injuries.
The Rabbitohs smashed the Eels 38-0 in round 16 and their attack, led by halves Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds, has continued to sparkle with 106 points piled on in the past two games.
Meanwhile, Parramatta's right edge was shredded by the Storm in the 36-24 loss at Suncorp Stadium. Centre Waqa Blake's propensity to jam inwards in defence has been particularly scrutinised.
Blake played the majority of the match against Melbourne on the left wing after an injury to Maika Sivo.
However, he and usual right-side partner Blake Ferguson, who is in doubt with a knee issue, ranked as the third-worst defensive centre-wing pairing over 20 rounds of the regular season with 38 combined try causes.
More than one player can be attributed with a try cause on the same play.
While South Sydney had success down that channel in their meeting five weeks ago, they're anticipating a sterner test.
Eels v Rabbitohs - Semi Final
"I think they've been prepared as best they can and we're preparing for them to be at their very best," Walker said on Wednesday.
"If you look at not too long ago, they were the best defensive team in the comp [in terms of tries conceded].
"They're very experienced players and I'm sure they'll be doing as best they can to prepare well for this weekend."
Hooker Damien Cook wasn't concerned about who would line up where for Parramatta but hinted they'd have a tough task trying to contain Walker and Reynolds.
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"Teams can know what plays are coming at them but whether they stop them is a different thing," Cook said.
"I know [Walker and Reynolds] are making the right calls at the moment, they're picking the right ways to go. They're knowing when to hit short and know when to hit out the back.
"Those two are doing a great job and we've got some great outside backs that know how to finish off a try. The forwards have just got to make sure we lay that platform and they'll take care of the rest."
Walker said the Rabbitohs are preparing as though Ferguson, who was named for the Eels, would take his place.
A season-curtailing knee injury to Sivo has opened the door for George Jennings to start.
"Sivo's a big loss for them. He gets their sets off to a great start and he's been one of the best players for them all year," Cook added.
"Fergo helps them get off to great starts to their sets as well and he's someone we like to make sure we stop his go-forward."
Parramatta's players discussed the challenge of limiting Walker's impact in their media call on Tuesday.
But the five-eighth himself isn't too interested in delving into his brilliant efforts, repeatedly using the phrase "it's not the time to reflect" at the end of answers about his stunning form.
However, he did reveal he's never before played with so much confidence.
"Wayne is just encouraging us to get together and play some footy," Reynolds said of his combination with Walker.
"He loves it when we link up together and challenge the opposition. Our structures allow us to do that and it's great free-flowing footy. It's good to jump wherever you want and play some eyes-up footy.
"I don't want to give too many secrets away but we've just simplified our roles. I play on the ball and I just try and get Cody nice, clean, early ball and put him into a bit of space and he's got his thing that he does out the back."
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Walker returned the compliments for his scrum-base partner.
"Reyno's a huge part of our game. I can't do what I do unless he's doing his work on the inside of the big plays that we're putting on," he said.
"He's an integral part of our team and he's our little general. We just try to make a conscious effort to connect with one another when we get opportunities to attack in good-ball. It's been paying off."
