Southern Districts haven’t forgotten how they were ambushed by an in form Northern Suburbs side in last year’s preliminary final at Forshaw Park.

While the Rebels couldn’t get the job done in 2016, they’ll take a lot more confidence into Sunday’s clash on the back of nine straight wins, dating back to a loss to Sydney Uni in round nine back in late May.

Norths famously won 13 straight matches on the way to winning their first premiership in 41 years last season, but have struggled to find that form consistently in 2017.

Since losing to the Rebels 37-33 in round 14, the Shoreman have won three of their last four matches and welcome back Waratahs forward Michael Wells for a match they must win to keep their season alive.

Souths scored a late try to beat Randwick and secure second spot at Coogee Oval last weekend but the win came at a cost.

Just a week after losing former Brumbies No.9 Dewet Roos for the season, reserve halfback Eli Pilz tore his hamstring in the final play of the match against the Galloping Greens.

Sam Harris will start his first match in the top grade after spending most of this season playing between second and third grade.

The Rebels forwards produced arguably their best performance of the season against Randwick last weekend and if Harris can steer them around the park on Sunday, they will be hard to stop.

But Norths know how to win matches at this time of the year and will like their chances of causing an upset down south on Sunday.

Southern Districts (2) v Northern Suburbs (5)

Southern Districts (1-15)

Conor Young, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Duncan Chubb, Angus Ryan, Jake Douglas, Alex Perez, Marcus Carbone, Jed Holloway, Sam Harris, Rohan Saifoloi, Alex Gibbon, Apolosi Latunipulu, Luke Smart/Denny Godinet, Ben Connolly, Jamie Verran.

Northern Suburbs (1-15)

Ezra Luxton, Sam Kitchen, Lawrence Hunting, James Brown, Conor Vest, Gary Bautz, Will Miller, Hugh Sinclair, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Lachlan Creagh, Harry Burey, Cameron Clark, Richard Woolf, Augustin Slowik.