SBW triple chance of impact

Roosters star ... Sonny Bill Williams set for three stints on Thursday night. Source:News Limited

Forty minutes in three torrid spells.

That is what Sonny Bill Williams can expect to play in Thursday night's season opener against Souths.

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Rival coaches claim Williams, who was chosen to come off the bench in jumper No.16, will be flung into the action after 20 to 25 minutes and play until half-time.

He will restart the second half, play 15 minutes and have another breather. It is more than likely he will then re-emerge for the final 10 minutes.

"A lot will depend on how much defence he has done but, overall, he will play about 40 minutes," one NRL coach said.

"He will be okay, although the wrestle will take a toll. Having three or four defenders wrestle you with each hit-up does sap your energy. And that wouldn't have happened to him in rugby union."

Radio reports yesterday suggested Williams would withdraw because of a pectoral injury but it appears certain he will play - no doubt to plenty of cheers and jeers.

Privately, Bunnies players are fed up with the 'SBW' hype.

"Has there been much hype? I don't know. I haven't been reading the papers or watching the news," Souths skipper Michael Crocker said.

"Is he playing?"

Williams has dominated the build-up but Crocker and teammate Roy Asotasi are more than aware of the Roosters' star factor.

"We haven't talked much about Sonny Bill," Asotasi said.

"They have 17 players who will be take the field. It won't just be Sonny."

Souths coach Michael Maguire said: "All we are focusing on is what we can control."

At least Nathan Merritt will be well rested for the season opener against the Roosters.

The winger is back in the South Sydney line-up after being dumped for the Charity Shield clash against St George Illawarra for sleeping in and missing a training session.

Teammate Beau Champion will play in the centres for the first time in two years after returning to Redfern via Melbourne and then the Gold Coast.

Meanwhile, Roosters officials genuinely fear being ambushed by Souths fans tomorrow night.

Some even suggest that 30,000 of the 40,000 fans will be Rabbitohs, despite it being a Roosters home game.

Past and present Roosters players are being urged to tell any supporters they bump into to snap up the remaining tickets to avoid a red, white and blue embarrassment.

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