Paulo is currently sidelined with a wrist injury and won't line up for the Rabbitohs at Apex Oval on Sunday, but he's in Dubbo in the lead-up to the match with the club's charity, Souths Cares.

Souths Cares has been visiting a number of the city's schools, running education seminars and skills clinics, and Paulo has been amazed by the interest of the students and the wider community.

"It's eye-opening. I've been a city boy all my life. I was in Auckland, and then the Gold Coast and now Sydney but to see all the kids out here enjoying their time and loving their footy, it's the best thing to see," he said, before speaking about the sold-out match.

"I was struggling to get tickets myself. I had people asking me but there's nothing available.

"Souths is such a big community and it's not just in the city. You go to Brisbane or back home in New Zealand and you see them everywhere. It's a big community and one big family."

Paulo was joined at schools on Wednesday by fellow Souths player Yileen Gordon and former Rabbitohs Ethan Lowe and Rhys Wesser.

While there was a huge amount of fun and laughter during the games run at the skills clinic, the club also promoted a number of serious messages at each school.

Souths Cares teamed up with Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) to run the Quit B Fit program, while eSafety and mental health classes were also run.

"It's really good to be out here spreading the word of the Rabbitohs, footy in general, and letting the kids have some fun but also teach them some thing in the classroom as well," former Queensland Origin representative Lowe said.

"It's massively important being able to spread the word of rugby league but also teach kids about eating right, mental health, and also eSafety and being safe online. In this day and age that's pretty important so us getting out there and spread that message is an important job."

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Lowe and Paulo joined in a number of the games at Orana Heights Public School on Wednesday afternoon, much to the delight of the students.

"We try to make them learn a bit and then they get to come out and have some fun and throw the footy around," Lowe said.

"To be here and see the kids being happy is pretty cool," Paulo added.

Seminars continue through to Friday before the attention turns to Sunday's bumper match between a Rabbitohs side boosted by the return of Latrell Mitchell and Josh Mansour and the unbeaten competition leaders, Penrith.

"All the boys are ready to go," Paulo said.

"Training has been solid. I was there yesterday (Tuesday) before coming out here and the boys are ready.

"Latrell's back and he's a big name and everyone feeds off his energy so I think we'll be looking good this weekend."

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