The Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers are determined to claim a piece of additional baggage before they pack their bags for next season's Las Vegas season opener.
The two sides will play in Saturday night's preliminary final at Accor Stadum in an early taste of what's to come in the US entertainment capital next year.
Penrith and Cronulla will face off in one of four matches at Allegiant Stadium on March 1 in a bumper festival of rugby league.
While the Warriors and Raiders have turned their focus to a preliminary scouting mission to Vegas in November, the Panthers and Sharks currently have their sights set on booking a place in next week's NRL decider.
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"We've got tunnel vision at the moment," Cronulla forward Teig Wilton told NRL.com. "At this time of the year we're focused on what's in front of us right now and that's Penrith.
"We're looking to play the way we want to play, Sharks football. If the American fans enjoy what we do, that would be a good bonus."
Match: Panthers v Sharks
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Panthers
2nd Position
away Team
Sharks
4th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
The NRL is looking to build on a stunning start to the 2024 season when the Roosters and Sea Eagles prevailed in front of more than 40,000 fans at the home of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The incredible success has seen excitement build for the second year and the feast of football has expanded to four games. Early ticket sales have been swift and supporters from around the world are set to descend on the city.
UK Super League clubs Wigan and Warrington will kick off a massive day at Allegiant Stadium before the Warriors and Raiders face off.
The Jillaroos will then take on the England Women's team before the Panthers and Sharks close out the afternoon in a repeat of this weekend's preliminary final.
The clash will pit close mates Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes against each other, with Hynes eager to end Penrith's three-year reign over the NRL.
This weekend's match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2 in the USA from 6am Eastern Time, with fans also able to tune in through a Watch NRL subscription.
With Cronulla now just one win away from their first grand final since 2016, Wilton said the squad is determined to move one step closer towards securing an additional piece of baggage for the trip to Vegas.
"That would be great," he said. "It's what we're chasing, it's what every team wants. We'd love to have an off-season with a ring on our fingers and go to Vegas as the premiers.
"We're putting that out of our minds for now, we'll think about it when we get through the next couple of weeks. Our main focus for now is on putting in a good performance this weekend and making the grand final."
