The Bulldogs have produced a phenomenal surge from seventh on the NRL ladder to the grand final, one rung lower than the launching pad for their irresistible run to the 1995 premiership.

Trent Hodkinson's field goal against Manly not only sent the fans into raptures, it conjured memories of the club's charge to the 1998 grand final and the heart-stopping victories over Newcastle and Parramatta along the way.

But this week Canterbury are resigned to the role of pantomime villain in South Sydney's bid to break a 43-year premiership drought.

It's a story complete with a Hollywood superstar; an English hero walking away a legend, and the downtrodden rising up 15 years after being kicked out of the new rugby league empire.

A major discussion point this week was whether the suspended Issac Luke would be able to stand on the dais and do the lap of honour should South Sydney win.

Bunnies tragics are delirious about reaching the Holy Grail after years of being a laughing stock, while clinging to a club history created well before many of them were born.

Of course, Des Hasler is banking on this pre-game ceremony and celebration having the Rabbitohs players believe this is their destiny.

Hasler is content to stay under the radar, his default position, while milking Michael Ennis's injury for all it's worth.

Ennis's foot problem offers intrigue about the Bulldogs' line-up on Sunday.

Do they use a backup rookie hooker in Moses Mbye? Or a tag team of Reni Maitua and the front-row cavalry of Tony Williams, James Graham and Frank Pritchard?

Will Ennis throw away his crutches and lead the team on to ANZ Stadium?

It was only a month ago the Bulldogs gave up an 18-point lead to the Titans in the final round of the season; surely this mob aren't entitled to win it?

The Rabbitohs deserve the favouritism, they finally have their chance after losing the previous two preliminary finals.

In 1998, the Broncos were back at the height of their powers following the 1992-93 title double.

The premiers of 1997, Brisbane (Super League) and Newcastle (ARL) had both finished on 37 competition points.

But the dream decider of the unified competition was ruined by an extraordinary finals charge from the Bulldogs.

It's folklore how in a 20-team competition and 10-team finals series, the Bulldogs finished ninth - they wouldn't have even made the finals in any other year.

They beat St George at Kogarah and the Bears at North Sydney Oval, before producing spine-tingling, nerve-shredding, tear-shedding comebacks against Newcastle and then Parramatta, featuring the Daryl Halligan sideline conversion to level the scores.

But the Craig Polla-Mounter long-range field goal attempt which fell just short of the crossbar in the victory over the Eels proved a sign of things to come.

They made the grand final, only to be overwhelmed by the awesome might of the Broncos, featuring Steve Renouf, Allan Langer, Shane Webcke, Gorden Tallis and a young Darren Lockyer.

In 1998, the Bulldogs were comeback kings. This year, they've led from the front in all three finals games.

A loss on Sunday would put 2014 in the shadow of 1998, but victory would put the premiership triumph squarely alongside 1995, when Terry Lamb's men secured a 17-4 victory over Manly.

The 2004 crown was a very different success, it was about redemption after the salary cap rorts which shook the foundations of the game.

This year, the Bulldogs have tapped back into the "whatever it takes" mentality which typified their success in the '90s after the miserable failure of the 1994 grand final.

It's the same mindset which characterised NSW's State of Origin series win after years of heartbreak, led by Canterbury halfback Hodkinson and the injury-hampered heroics of Josh Morris.

But of course all of these words are wasted, because it's all about the Rabbitohs fairytale, right?