Billy Slater's telling message for Latrell Mitchell as fullback returns from suspension for injury ravaged Rabbitohs

Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater has a telling message for Latrell Mitchell, as the Rabbitohs fullback returns from a three-game suspension on Saturday.

Mitchell hasn't played since South Sydney's loss to the Warriors, in which he was suspended for landing an elbow to the face of Shaun Johnson.

While he's been out, coach Jason Demetriou has been sacked and his side has slumped to the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Souths also have a growing list of players who are sidelined because of injury, including Cam Murray, Dean Hawkins, Isaiah Tass and Jye Gray.

'Just go and play footy - that's what he does best, he enjoys that,' he said on the Billy Slater Podcast earlier in the week.

'He's a footy player and I'm sure he is looking forward to getting out there and having a bit of fun. Smile, go and enjoy yourself, play some footy. 

'He'd been quite frustrated just before he got suspended and you could see that with some of his actions on the field.

'His team has been in a hole and he hasn't been playing his best football - but I think the game is better when Latrell is back and enjoying himself and playing well.'

The 26-year-old certainly needs to get Souths back on track, and NRL great Braith Anasta thinks Mitchell needs to lead from the front on a kick-return. 

'I'd like him to just get the ball off that kick-return and run it. That is the trigger,' Anasta said on NRL 360.

'If I'm his coach, (I'd say) 'can you just catch it and run? Don't look for your wingers, just run'. 

'He can beat two or three defenders, he attracts two or three defenders and then it opens it up for everyone else. It frustrates me that he looks for that pass all the time.'

Footy great James Graham also believes Mitchell's attitude in the match will be crucial.

'If you look at some of the new names....They're going to look to Latrell and see what attitude he packs, what sort of game he brings,' Graham said.

'He has the ability to be so infectious on a group that is so down on confidence, that are dejected and deflated, looking and thinking about who's coming in next year — almost playing for yourself.

'He is so important. His first touch of the football this weekend is going to be so important on the impact it's going to have in and around this team. 

Also his attitude at training is going to be massive for these people that are coming in to an awful situation. It's on him... a massive role.'