Rabbitohs ready to take on high-flying PNG in annual Return to Redfern match

SOUTH Sydney is prepared to face Papua New Guinea in the annual Return to Redfern match.

SOUTH Sydney is prepared to face Papua New Guinea in the annual Return to Redfern match.

A long summer of painful weights sessions, endurance training and skill programs will hold the South Sydney Rabbitohs in good stead this Saturday for the Return to Redfern match against Papua New Guinea.

The annual event, now in its fifth year, is expected to attract a sell-out crowd of Rabbitohs members all vying for a glimpse of the team for the first time in 2013 on Saturday.

New recruits including Ben Te'o, Jeff Lima and Tom Burgess will also receive their Rabbitohs jumpers as part of a traditional presentation before the match.

Rabbitohs forward and local hero Jason Clark, who played junior rugby at the Coogee Randwick Wombats, said the game against PNG would be a tough encounter.

"The first trial really caps off all the hard work we've done over summer but it definitely won't be easy," he said.

"Return to Redfern is a special event because we have a lot of local boys who really get up when we play in the heart of South Sydney.

"We'll be ready to go on Saturday and hopefully our performance can set a positive standard for the rest of the season."

PNG is ranked sixth in the world and has been narrowly beaten only in September by the Australian Prime Minister's XIII side, 24-18.

In 2012 South Sydney narrowly lost the Return to Redfern match 34-28 to The Warrington Wolves.

This year's game will kick-off at 6pm and there will be plenty of children's activities including free face painting, jumping castles and an appearance from mascot, Reggie Rabbit.

Details: www.rabbitohs.com.au