Extra incentive for Souths but Tigers reunion just another game for Benji

Rabbitohs players say there will be extra motivation to win with Benji Marshall, Adam Doueihi and Michael Maguire facing their old clubs but the Kiwi legend says it is no different to any other game.

The 2005 premiership winner played more than 250 games in black, white and gold but leading into just his fifth in cardinal and myrtle, he insists there is no extra incentive for him against the Wests Tigers this Saturday evening.

"I'll be back on the bench so I'll probably be watching most of the game. It's just another game," Marshall said.

"I'll always have mates there, the club will always be a part of my life but at the moment my focus is here."

He has cleared the air with Maguire since being moved on by the Tigers coach, with the pair now "all good", he added.

While Marshall may not reckon there is extra importance in this match, his teammates still want him to get one up on his former employers while also celebrating winger Alex Johnston bringing up 150 NRL games.

"We've got a lot to play for, we want to play good for Benji against his old club," said lock Cameron Murray.

"It's AJ's 150th game too which is a massive achievement for someone so young so there's a little bit of extra incentive for us to play good."

Hooker Damien Cook joked Marshall may not even be able to back up from his first full game of the year in time.

"Who knows, I think he's still recovering from the 80-minute performance, I'm not sure if he'll even back up this week!" Cook laughed.

"He hasn't spoken at all about it. It's not really his old club because he was already retired when we picked him up."

Cook played alongside Doueihi and under Maguire at Redfern so understands there will be plenty of incentive on both sides this weekend.

"They've got some great players there, I'm sure they'll turn up to get back into the winners circle," he said.

"Madge up against his old club, Doueihi against his old club as well, they'll want to put their best foot forward."

While Marshall didn't expect big minutes against the Tigers given Cody Walker's return from suspension, he was bullish on his ability to get through a full game whenever needed after finishing in the middle in the 35-6 win over the Broncos once debutant Dean Hawkins got on the field.

"Everyone was saying I couldn't play 80 minutes, I got through 80 minutes," he said.

"I played 49 minutes the first week, I think I played 40 the second week, then I got like 12 minutes then like 30 minutes. For the fitness it was good [to play a full game]."

It does require a different approach, which Marshall said was actually easier from the bench.

"On the bench you can be a bit more relaxed and don't get too far into (the warm up) because you can play the game too early and lose your energy," he added.

"It's easier off the bench, you come on when everyone's tired. Everything thinks you come on and bring heaps of energy but it's just everyone else is a bit more tired so if you don't come on with energy you look shit."

Someone who is accustomed to playing 80 minutes but hasn't the past two weeks is Cook, with coach Wayne Bennett using the two blowout wins as a chance to get the hard-working hooker a 15-minute early mark in each game.

"I don't like coming off at all and the last two games I've come off with 15 to go," he said.

"To be honest that's when you have the most fun. Especially with the games like they have been when we're out in front and you can have a bit more joy, get out and have a bit more of a run but he's taken me off but that's fine.

"Benji wasn't too happy that I got the rest and he didn't. Whatever the idea behind that is, whether he's giving me a rest here and there, he'll rotate them around. Cam (Murray) was given the last 15 minutes off as well. I'll take it now, you never know how it might repay us at the back end of the year."

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