Luke Kelly firming as Adam Reynolds' replacement for South Sydney Rabbitohs

Parramatta recruit Luke Kelly, who has chalked up just 47 games across seven injury-ravaged NRL seasons with the Storm and Eels, is firming for a South Sydney debut in the opening round blockbuster against the Tigers on Friday night.

Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire could deploy hooker Damien Cook or even former skipper John Sutton in the halves to partner Cody Walker as Reynolds battles appendicitis, but 26-year-old Kelly is in line to get the nod.

Asked about Maguire's options, Rabbitohs enforcer Sam Burgess said: "We've got Luke Kelly who is an out-and-out [No.7] and that would be the least impact – a like-for-like swap. He's a good lad and he's great in and around the boys.

"At training I've spent some time with him and he's a really good general. He's been unlucky with injury the last couple of years. If he plays we're certainly confident in him. He's fitted in very well into the football club and if he gets the nod I'm looking forward to playing with him."

Kelly, born in the Northern Territory, managed just one game for the Eels in 2016 but has recovered from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament to play a pivotal role in the early season ambitions of the Rabbitohs.

Kelly steered a youthful Rabbitohs around the park in their trial against Manly at Campbelltown, but will have a much more imposing forward pack to play behind at ANZ Stadium in Robbie Farah's first clash against his old club.

"He's trained really well himself and he's like a little general from what I've seen and he gets the boys around the park," Sutton said of Kelly. "He's coming off an ACL injury and is training the house down. He definitely deserves his shot. I don't mind playing there, but whatever Madge [Maguire] wants to do with the side [is fine]."

Maguire threw Kelly an NRL Lifeline at the end of last season and his unlikely Rabbitohs debut at least temporarily took some of the focus off Farah, whose long-awaited reunion with the Tigers will be front and centre.

It has broken up the Rabbitohs-Roosters opening round rivalry which has traditionally been a highlight of any NRL season start.

But if Farah is supposed to be feeling the heat, he certainly isn't letting on to teammates.

"Whoever we were playing it was going to be a big week for him," Burgess said. "I've said before Robbie is one of the more professional blokes I've come across and he'll deal with it just fine.

"If you had never met Robbie and never heard a thing about him and saw the way he is in our changing rooms and in our team you would find it hard to believe what's said and written about him.

"It is a big week, but Robbie's not the only player in the team. He's a key part of the team, as is Damien Cook, as is Greg Inglis, as is Adam Reynolds – there's a lot of ingredients in the cake. Just give it a few months and see how it goes."