NRL Grand Final 2014: Date, Time, Live Stream and Rabbitohs vs. Bulldogs Preview

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will hope to correct the mistakes of their failed 2012 NRL Grand Final when taking on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Sydney's ANZ Stadium this Sunday.

That 14-4 loss to Melbourne Storm will still have an imprint on the minds of many in Des Hasler's squad, and it's another uphill task they face against this season's favourites.

Actor Russell Crowe has helped guide the Bunnies to new heights in what will be their first Grand Final for 43 years, his takeover vindicated in what's been a resurgent campaign thus far.

Ahead of this term's Premiership curtain call, we provide a preview of which players should court your attention in Sydney, along with full viewing details for the fixture.

Date: Sunday, Oct. 5

Time: 9:20 a.m. BST/4:20 a.m. ET

Live Stream: Premier Sports (subscription required)

Key Players to Watch

South Sydney Rabbitohs: Sam Burgess

Renee McKay/Getty Images

In what will be his last game for the Bunnies before heading for rugby union shores, Sam Burgess has as much individual reason as anyone for wanting to bow out on a high.

Bath are understandably excited to have one of league's biggest stars finally joining their cause later this month, but for now Burgess' prime concern lies at Stadium Australia.

There, the lock will hope to end his 2014 campaign just as he's played his entire term, although the Bulldogs' James Graham insists there's more to this Rabbitohs side, per the club's official Twitter account:

The Bulldogs will undoubtedly have to focus on doubling up to counter the Burgess threat, but Graham is right in that over-committing to that cause risks leaving gaps in other areas of the pitch.

However, that's a risk one is usually forced into taking when up against such a powerful force, and the Souths will hope the occasion of this curtain closer brings the best out of their hulking talisman.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: Trent Hodkinson

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The half-back pairing of Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds come to Sydney as two of the Bulldogs' triumphant State of Origin winners from earlier this year, hoping to build on their 2014 trophy haul.

However, a niggling knee injury could ensure Hodkinson's influence is limited on Sunday, the halfback told Josh Massoud of The Daily Telegraph such was the case in the qualifying win over Penrith Panthers:

"

Early on in the week, the doctors said I would be right to play, which was hard to take in because I could barely walk. No doubt in the back of my mind, when I was warming up, I thought about it a bit. But once the game started it went away.

I was a little bit limited. It was not so much sore, it was just weak. But in saying that I’m way ahead of where I was last week. I’m sure it will be back to 100 per cent by Sunday, because we’ve got an extra day’s turnaround.

"

Coach Hasler will certainly hope so, considering when fully fit, his halfback star has the capacity to give Reynolds a quick platform to build off, so pivotal a factor in the Bulldogs' hope for success.

This side don't boast the reputation as the most offensively fluid team heading into Sunday's Grand Final, but any moves they're to make in fashioning a strong assault on the Rabbitohs lines will rely largely upon Hodkinson's playmaking input.