"The boys were saying my hair was getting pretty thin at training last week, so I figured I'd just shave it all off," Burns told NRL.COM

"I thought I'd just get rid of it and start fresh, see how it goes."

READ ALSO:

A fresh start isn't a new concept for Burns, who has hovered on the cusp of being a fully featured player for the Rabbitohs since 2017.

The wait finally seemed to be over for Burns in 2019, when he looked poised to take a starring role in the Rabbitohs line-up, but was hampered by recurrent injuries and only played nine games for the club.

"It was pretty disappointing, I thought I started well, it was the first time I started a season in the NRL, everything was looking upwards so getting injured turned everything around," Burns said.

Despite the set-back, Burns is confident that the time in rehab for a damaged hamstring will serve him well in the year ahead.

"I feel like I've been doing pre-season for the last six to eight months, we built those combinations again with Cody Walker and Campbell Graham and now Cam Murray on that edge, so hopefully we can start the same way as last year," Burns said.

"A lot of it is the rehab side of thing sand getting it strong in the gym, the last eight months I've put my head down and tried to get as much strength as I can into it."

"I haven't skipped much in the gym, I've been trying to make sure I do a bit of everything so that it's as strong as possible and I can know when I get on the field I have that confidence to not tear it again."

"It's a lot of rehab and it's been a long process, but I feel like I'm in a position now where it's not going to go again."

The pre-season exercise strength of schedule isn't the only thing affording Burns confidence though, with Wayne Bennett's backing once again spurring Burns to deliver.

"This year with Latrell coming in, there was a chance for Wayne to shuffle the team around again, but he kept me there and he's shown that confidence in me again," Burns said.

"He's told me in the past he likes what I bring and as long as I'm doing that again, I'm confident."

Burns is also relishing the work he's been able to put in with star signing Latrell Mitchell, noting how well the two work in concert down the flank.

"Obviously, Latrell's pretty dominant on that left edge as well, when he sweeps around you kind of see the defenders are going to hold off and try to rush him, so it's going to open up opportunities for me and I'm looking forward to it," Burns said.

The Rabbitohs meet Cronulla at 5.30 on Saturday.