South Sydney will aim to snap a three-game losing streak when they take on Newcastle in Magic Round.
The Rabbitohs got off to life under Wayne Bennett for the second time in impressive fashion as they won four of their first five matches.
However, after being toppled by North Queensland in Perth the Bunnies have suffered a form slump with injuries biting hard.
Bennett’s side are already without Latrell Mitchell, Alex Johnston, Cody Walker, Jamie Humphreys and Cameron Murray for the clash against the Knights.
And their absentee list has grown even longer with Jack Wighton now entering the casualty ward.
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Why Souths star Jack Wighton won’t play at Magic Round
Wighton played his best game of the season in Round 8 as he bagged a double during his side’s narrow loss to the Melbourne Storm.
Yet after starring in the centres, the veteran was named at five-eighth for this week’s match after Jye Gray reverted to fullback to cover for the suspended Mitchell.
Wighton will not get to don the No.6 jersey in Brisbane though after he was ruled out through injury.
The 32-year-old suffered a calf issue during his side's loss to Melbourne that is set to sideline him for up to six weeks.
"Four to six weeks, they tell us, it's a pretty serious one," Bennett revealed ahead of Magic Round.
"It didn't worry him too much in the game. He came off the field and was a bit sore. They decided to have a scan, it was a pretty good tear."
As a result of his injury withdrawal, Lewis Dodd has been moved into the starting side and will partner Jayden Sullivan in the halves.
Dodd was expected to be named at halfback for Magic Round but the English international was originally overlooked by Bennett. The decision led to significant concern around the recruit’s future at Redfern.
However, the former St Helens playmaker will get his chance to start in the NRL for the first time after previously featuring for 39 minutes across two appearances he made off the pine.
Wighton is set to miss Magic Round as well as meetings with Brisbane and the Wests Tigers before the Rabbitohs enjoy their first bye of the season.
If he is out for the full six weeks, Wighton will also miss matches against the New Zealand Warriors as well as a return to the nation's capital to take on his former club Canberra.