Wayne Bennett knows you need to keep your best players on the park to beat the best which is why he's in no rush to insert South Sydney debutant Lewis Dodd into the fray against Canterbury.
The Rabbitohs take on the competition leaders on Good Friday at Homebush with captain Cody Walker returning from a two-week injury absence in the halves to partner Latrell Mitchell.
English import Dodd will come off the bench but the last thing Bennett wants is for him to be replacing one of his star duo. If the game is close it is hard to imagine Dodd seeing much game time at all.
"The game goes anywhere but there is no guarantee for anyone on that bench," Bennett said.
" They will play but (Dodd's) the 17th guy and can play halfback and five-eighth. Cody can play a lot of places and Latrell can. It depends what our needs are.
"It will be some time in the second half I hope, not the first half."
The wily coach has never talked up a debutant in his life and he wasn't about to start with Dodd, so he was cryptic when asked what fans could expect from the 23-year-old.
"They will see him on the bench for starters. After that I can't tell you," Bennett smirked.
"I've got to get him on the field first. Let's get him on the field and make a few decisions then."
Dodd has had his critics but Bennett couldn't give two hoots about so-called detractors.
"I don't know how he can have detractors when he hasn't played a game. Let him play some football and we can all make a decision," Bennett said.
"I want him to do well. We've worked hard with him to do that. He had opportunities to be selected but was suspended on both occasions. He's here now so let's see what happens."
The return of Walker against the competition heavyweights has come at just the right time. The 35-year-old plays his best football under Bennett who regards Walker as one of the most naturally gifted players he has ever coached.
"Cody has the experience, knowledge of the game and ability to handle the game," Bennett said.
"He is in that exceptional group of guys that I have coached over a long period of time that have a real knack and feel for the game. They don't need much coaching."
Star centre Campbell Graham also returns from injury at just the right time but will make a positional switch with wingers Tyrone Munro, Mikaele Ravalawa and Alex Johnston injured.
"It is not our preferred position for him on the wing but we have three wingers injured," Bennett said.
