Walker's surprise claim ahead of timely Latrell comeback

Latrell Mitchell will run out for the Rabbitohs for the first time in a month – and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the competition’s last-placed team.

After a horror run with injuries and the sacking of head coach Jason Demetriou, the club’s most crucial player is back on deck for a must-win game against the Dragons.

Despite missing a litany of key men, including captain Cameron Murray, Souths are desperate to get off the bottom of the table and Mitchell’s presence will only boost their chances of recording their second win of the year.

The Bunnies have failed to win this year without the 26-year-old fullback, who returns from a three-game suspension, which is why stand-in skipper Cody Walker is certain his close mate will bring out the best in the playing group.

Latrell Mitchell will return for Souths against the Dragons.

“He feeds a lot of people with confidence when he puts that jersey on when you look across from him in the sheds,” Walker said on Wednesday.

“He’s an elite player, he is world class – he just feeds everyone with confidence.

“He’s a massive in for us, he is a massive part of our squad and we just can’t wait to get him out there and play some footy. We’re looking forward to having him back.

“We’re gonna be up against it [against the Dragons] and we know that, but looking forward to getting out there and playing some footy.”

St George Illawarra is also in desperation mode heading into Saturday’s clash, coming off a 60-18 drubbing on Anzac Day a fortnight ago and another tough loss in wet conditions against local rivals Cronulla in round nine.

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Walker will step in to fill the leadership vacancy left by Murray, who is out for the next six weeks with a hip injury, and has a very simple message for his teammates, who he claims are “improving” despite heavy defeats over the last fortnight.

“When you’re going through these sorts of periods, you have to fall back on your effort areas,” the five-eighth said.

Cody Walker fronts the media ahead of South Sydney’s round 10 match with the Dragons.

“They are pretty basic – kick pressure, run hard, tackle hard – all the basics you learn at a pretty young age, we have to nail them. We have.

“I know it might not seem that way, but we are looking at vision that shows we are improving and we need to keep building on that.”

The 34-year-old also refused to weigh in on the Wayne Bennett saga, with the supercoach closing in on a return to Redfern.

“It’s no secret what I feel about Wayne and how much the club feel about him – but obviously that’s not important at the moment,” Walker said.

“It’s further down the track and I won’t comment on something that’s far away. We’ve got more important things to worry about.”