Warriors' halfback Shaun Johnson is expected to make an early return from injury, a week ahead of schedule according to coach Stephen Kearney.
Johnson has not played for the club since the round 19 loss against the Penrith Panthers where he ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament.
The 26-year-old is already back training with the team and is currently on track to return for the final home game of the season next week.
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"He is even closer now after this week," said Kearney.
"He's got to get through a bit of contact but he's moving pretty well.
"With a short week for us this week it probably hasn't quite worked out in his favour so we'll give him as much opportunity and hopefully he'll be right for next weekend."
The Warriors will be boosted by the return of Kieran Foran - who missed last weekend's 36-16 loss to Canberra due to a shoulder injury.
Foran will partner Ata Hingano in the halves for Friday night's clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs - the Warriors' fifth starting halves combination of 2017.
With Hingano starting, Mason Lino drops out of the starting 17.
Kearney was very impressed with the 20-year-old's performance despite the loss and hopes he can carry that form into the clash against the Bunnies.
"I thought both Ata and Mason played well the other night," Kearney told reporters.
"I was pleased for Ata, he missed out when Mason got the jump on him a few weeks earlier and he has taken that in his stride and come back and put in a good performance.
"It's really important that he backs that up on Friday night.
"Last weekend we lacked a little bit of polish with a number of sets on the try line and we couldn't quite nail the opportunities we had - that's why Kieran comes back into the fold."
Off the field, talks about the club potentially being sold are heating up.
Auckland businessman Paul Davys revealed on Sunday that he is in talks to buy the Warriors from Eric Watson and he has said he wants an answer by Friday.
If a new owner comes in Kearney will be under immense pressure to perform after a woeful 2017 season - his first on a three-year deal with the club.
Kearney insists all the talks about the club possibly being sold are not distracting him coach the team on the field.
"I haven't even thought about that, to be honest, because there hasn't been a change of ownership as yet.
"What I've got control over is that we have training today and a game on Friday so that's all I'm focusing on.
"I'm sure Eric and Jim (Doyle, Warriors managing director) have the club's interests at heart and I'm sure whatever happens will happen for the right reasons and will be in the best interests of the footy club.
The Warriors head into the match on a six game losing streak and have not beaten the Rabbitohs since 2012.
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