VENUE & TIME: CUA Stadium, Saturday March 13 , 7.35pm (AEDT).
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Panthers 27 - Raiders 14 at CUA Stadium, Round 19, 2009.
MATCH ODDS: Luxbet: Panthers $1.36, Raiders $3.15
WALKING WOUNDED: The Panthers go into Round 1 minus teenage five-eighth Wade Graham (shoulder - Rnd 4), forwards Gavin Cooper (foot - Rnd 2) and Daine Laurie (toe - Rnd 3), while Sharks recruit David Simmons is out with a shoulder injury. Back-rower Nathan Smith has been named on an extended bench, but remains in doubt with a groin injury.
The Raiders suffered a huge blow in the trials with former Test star Joel Monaghan suffering a thumb injury that will sideline him until at least Round 6. Monaghan joins winger Justin Carney (ankle) and forwards Tom Learoyd Lahrs (knee) and Joe Picker (ankle) in the casualty ward.
FORM: The Panthers appear well-placed to make a genuine play at the finals for the first time since 2004 with a good blend of youth and experience forming a strong combination at the foot of the mountains. Solid wins over the Knights and Eels in the trials gives fans of the club plenty of room for optimism in a year it must simply perform.
After sneaking into the finals in 2008, the Raiders went backwards in 2009, finishing a disappointing 13th. They have virtually retained the same squad as last year and will be banking on the progress of a few boom youngsters who made their mark last season. The Green Machine lost both of their trials against the Bulldogs and Brisbane, but did produce some good signs in those matches.
WHO'S HOT: Michael Jennings is undoubtedly the shining light in the Panthers backline. A brilliant NRL 2009 season saw Jennings rewarded with an Aussie Test berth in the Four Nations and he continued his sparkling form in the trials, bagging a hat-trick against the Knights.
There is little doubt that Terry Campese remains the key for the Raiders this season. He was brilliant in 2008 when he helped steer the club to a shock finals appearance which culminated in selection in the Australian World Cup squad. He suffered from a lack of consistency last season and this had a major effect on the team. A good performance in the club's trial against the Broncos may be an early pointer to what's to what's install for the super-talented pivot.
WE THINK: The Raiders managed just two away wins last season, continuing an atrocious on-the-road record for the club. Until the Green Machine can arrest this issue they will continue to remain friendless when playing outside of Canberra. Added to this is the loss of four quality players for a match that pits them up against a strong-looking Penrith outfit hungry to start the season on a high at home. The Panthers downed the Raiders twice last season. Panthers by 10.
TEAMS
Penrith Panthers:
1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Michael Gordon, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Adrian Purtell, 5 Shane Elford, 6 Travis Burns, 7 Luke Walsh, 8 Tim Grant, 9 Kevin Kingston, 10 Petero Civoniceva [c], 11. Frank Pritchard, 12 Trent Waterhouse, 13 Luke Lewis. Interchange: 14 Joseph Paulo, 15 Nathan Smith, 16 Matthew Bell, 17 Sam McKendry, 18 Brad Tighe, 20 Nigel Plum, 21 Frank Puletua (three to be omitted).
Canberra Raiders:
1