Penrith will be looking to strengthen their grip on second place against a Wests Tigers side searching for motivation after their finals campaign ended in humiliating fashion.
The Panthers, nearing full strength with key players returning each week, are regaining momentum at the perfect time after a rash of injuries caused Ivan Cleary's well-oiled machine to sputter.
The side's come-from-behind 25-12 win over Souths on Friday night was a wonderful dress rehearsal for Penrith's week on finals rematch with the Rabbitohs.
Nothing in 13th-placed Wests Tigers' implosion against Cronulla with their season on the line suggests that they will offer much of a challenge.
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The rundown
Team news
Panthers: In a minor change announced an hour before kick-off, Liam Martin moves into the starting side with Viliame Kikau dropping back to the bench.
Tyrone May will be on the interchange bench and Izack Tago is the 18th man.
Dylan Edwards (head knock) will play despite being injured in a nasty collision with Viliame Kikau last week.
Brian To'o (ankle) and James Fisher-Harris (personal reasons) will play their first games since round 19 with Brent Naden and Matt Eisenhuth dropping out of the squad to accommodate their return.
Fisher-Harris was held back from a return last week after limited training post-quarantine in Queensland but will play.
Taylan May and Charlie Staines were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Panthers have won seven of their past nine games against the Tigers.
Wests Tigers: Michael Maguire's team will start 1-17 with Zac Cini the 18th man.
Jock Madden replaces Adam Doueihi in the halves with the Lebanon international returning to Sydney for scans on a knee injury.
Billy Walters and Tuki Simpkins were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Tigers are aiming for back-to-back wins against the Panthers for the first time since 2013.
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Key match-up
Matt Burton v Tommy Talau: The back-up Panthers playmaker has taken his chances in the centres in stunning fashion, scoring 10 of his 15 tries in this breakthrough season in the outside backs. His Wests Tigers rival is no slouch in the try-scoring department either, tallying 10 four-pointers including one in each of his past three games.
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Stat attack
Nathan Cleary is more than 150 metres clear of second-placed Daly Cherry-Evans in kick meters despite having played six fewer games (14 to 20) and a mammoth 606 ahead of third-placed Adam Reynolds who has made 21 appearances in 2021.
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