GERRINGONG'S Jackson Ford will make his first start of the 2020 NRL season on Thursday when his St George Illawarra Dragons face the South Sydney Rabbitohs - a fixture which will kick-off the competition's 2020 Indigenous round.
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With Albion Park-Oak Flats' Adam Clune and Shellharbour's Trent Merring both being ruled out a concussion, the Dragons have been forced to reshuffle their 17-man side for the fixture at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Ben Hunt will move from hooker to halfback, with skipper Cam McInnes returning to the rake position - freeing up Ford to start at lock for Paul McGregor's troops.
Fellow Gerringong product Tariq Sims returns from a one-game suspension and will start alongside Ford in the back-row - with Tyson Frizell rounding out that position.
Shellharbour's Euan Aitken is the final Group Seven product in the Red V's side - with the 25-year-old named to start in the centres.
Joining Aitken in the backline are Matthew Dufty, Jordan Pereira, Zac Lomax, Mikaele Ravalawa, Corey Norman and Hunt - with Blake Lawrie and Paul Vaughan rounding out the starting side.
McGregor's four-man bench consists of Tyrell Fuimaono, Josh Kerr, Jacob Host and Tristan Sailor - who will make his first appearance for the club in 2020.
Nowra-born Cody Walker will start at five-eighth for the 10th-placed Rabbitohs - who sit one spot above the Dragons on the ladder heading into round 12.