If ever there were two teams hoping for a little "magic" in round 10 it's the Sharks and Rabbitohs.

Both these teams arrive in Brisbane with their tails between their legs after being unable to score a point in humiliating losses last week - the Rabbitohs by 50-0 to the Storm and the Sharks by 48-0 to the Panthers.

Despite South Sydney's embarrassment it was their first loss in eight weeks and they were down on key personnel. But it's a totally different story for coach Josh Hannay and the Sharks as they are now looking at a sixth straight defeat if they can't find a formula to beat Wayne Bennett's side.

One small advantage for Cronulla might be the fact Latrell Mitchell is still suspended.

It is the powerfully built fullback's fourth and final game on the sidelines for his dangerous contact on Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma.

But in truth the Sharks appear to have lost their way, as well as their confidence, with their last win coming way back in round four over the Cowboys.

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The rundown

Team news

Sharks: Matt Moylan has replaced star playmaker Shaun Johnson, who didn’t travel with the team to Queensland after suffering a minor hamstring injury at training on Tuesday, at five-eighth.

Johnson will have to wait at least another week to bring up his milestone 200th NRL game. Cronulla are confident the playmaker will only miss 1-2 weeks.

Braydon Trindall takes Moylan's place on the interchange with Jenson Taumoepeau the other omission 24 hours before kickoff.

Billy Magoulias is 18th man with Franklin Pele dropping out of the squad on game day. 

Josh Dugan gets the call-up to replace centre Jesse Ramien who will miss 4-6 weeks after scans confirmed a fractured eye socket caused by an accidental elbow to the face in the clash with Penrith.

The other big inclusion for Cronulla is Andrew Fifita, the veteran prop returning from a NSW Cup suspension to play his first top-grade game of 2021 from the interchange bench with versatile back-rower Bill Magoulias dropping back to the reserves.

Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee), Sione Katoa (knee) and Jackson Ferris (foot) are all at least another week away from being available for selection. 

The Sharks have won their past four games in Queensland.

Rabbitohs: In a huge boost halfback Adam Reynolds (thumb) has returned ahead of schedule, reclaiming the No.7 jersey which shifts Benji Marshall back to five-eighth and sends rookie playmaker Dean Hawkins out of the side.

Taane Milne has been brought in on the wing which allows Dane Gagai to return to the centres.

There has also been movement in the forwards with Liam Knight moving from the interchange to lock in a swap with Jai Arrow while Hame Sele takes Patrick Mago's place on the bench.

Patrick Mago is the 18th man with Hawkins dropping off the reserves on game day after Troy Dargan and Steven Marsters were omitted 24 hours before kick-off.

Veteran winger Josh Mansour (hamstring) and gun No.1 Latrell Mitchell (suspension) are due back in round 11.

The Rabbitohs have won 16 of their past 20 games when Reynolds has played.

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Key match-up

Aaron Woods v Tom Burgess: Experienced props Burgess and Woods need to lead the way with a few determined runs up the middle so respective hookers Damien Cook and Blayke Brailey can start to do a bit of damage around the ruck. Burgess and Woods are both international players so they need to let some of that fire and spirit spill out on to Suncorp Stadium to lift their teammates.

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Stat attack

The last time the Sharks lost six straight was the back end of 2014 (rounds 21-26) - funnily enough when there was also two different coaches for the season. Peter Sharp and James Shepherd stepped in after the suspension of Shane Flanagan over the supplements saga.

Then again, the Sharks' last streak of five straight defeats was in 2019 (rounds 14-18) and they still made the finals that year.

 

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