That's the warning from Rabbitohs forwards Liam Le Blanc and John Radel, as the Bunnies look to cement their spot in the NRL finals.
Souths currently sit sixth on the ladder, trying to keep out Newcastle and North Queensland who are on the same competition points (26) as them, and are looking to Ward to keep them on their winning ways.
Four wins from the past six games has the confidence bubbling, but Souths face top-four resident Cronulla Sharks on Sunday at Ocean Protect Stadium in the Shire.
"There's a few clubs sitting in a spot where it's do or die - there's no second chances," Radel said.
That's where the wily ways, try assists and kicking boot of Ward comes into play, even though the Sharks forwards will be licking their lips at his 74kg frame.
"He's a really gritty young fella," Radel said. "There's not a lot of size to him but he plays well above his weight and he has a red-hot crack with everything he does.
"There's no fear in him, which is so important with blokes smaller in stature - you can't hesitate.
"He's been massively impressive for us."
The 21-year-old Ward, who recently signed a contract extension with South Sydney until 2028, is good mates with Le Blanc whom he played against in SG Ball Cup (U17s) when the Rabbitohs faced St George Illawarra.
"I remember doing a review on him when we were coming through the grades and the attack was all on him, and how he controlled a team," Le Blanc said.
"As much as he looks like a spot in defence, in attack you have to be careful as he'll pull you apart.
"He's such a good kid and he was happy to step up to the role as starting halfback, which was probably pretty daunting with a few of the senior players we've got here," he said, referring to the likes of Cody Walker, Jack Wighton, Cam Murray and Latrell Mitchell.
"He's young and fresh but he stood up to the occasion - he has confidence and that's helped us so much."
The Rabbitohs are using this Sunday's game to spotlight the 'Stick with It' mental health campaign championed by club legend Greg Inglis as part of his Goanna Academy programs.
Radel, 23, from the Queensland rural town of Taroom, north-west of Dalby, spent his high school years as a boarder.
"The beauty of the boarding house is that you're living with all your mates so there's never a lack of people to talk to," he said. "But sometimes it's building the courage up to say something.
"Programs like this that raise awareness definitely give people the courage to seek help and not bottle things up."
Le Blanc had a stark reminder of that when he lost 19-year-old teammate Johannes Logan to suicide last November.
"He was my housemate so obviously his passing was a pretty full-on experience I'd never had before," Le Blanc said.
"The biggest thing for me is being present for someone, when you're with someone because you never know what they're going through.
"Like GI (Greg Inglis) talks about it so well is breaking the stigma of staying quiet about stuff troubling you."
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