VENUE & TIME: CUA Stadium, Saturday, September 11, 8.30pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Channel 9
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 57, Panthers 28, Raiders 28, draws 1
LAST TIME: Round 22, 2010 Raiders 30-26 at Canberra Stadium
WALKING WOUNDED: Penrith fullback Lachlan Coote (groin) hasn't been named in the side despite being out on the training paddock this week and coach Matthew Elliott said there was no chance of the diminutive No.1 playing. The Panthers do welcome back half-back Luke Walsh (ankle) and Luke Lewis (calf) after both missed last week's thrashing of the Sharks. Inspirational Raiders skipper Alan Tongue hasn't recovered from his niggling calf injury but hooker Travis Waddell has been cleared of a broken jaw and will play.
FORM: The Panthers have been scoring for fun over the last three weeks in big wins over the Rabbitohs, Bulldogs and Sharks. While that triumvirate have already set of on their end of season trips, 134 points in three matches against anyone is impressive and will ensure Matthew Elliott's side aren't lacking confidence in their first finals match in six years. The Raiders are the fairytale story of 2010, much like the Eels were 12 months ago. Canberra have a huge amount of momentum behind them with eight wins from their last nine matches .
WHO'S HOT: There were calls from some sections a couple of weeks back for the Panthers to drop back-rower Frank Pritchard after he announced he was moving to the Bulldogs in 2011. The Kiwi international is prone to errors and can seem disinterested at times when things aren't going well but when he's 'on' is almost unstoppable. He was at his destructive best against the Sharks last week grabbing a hat-trick and if he can produce something similar, Canberra's right-side defence will have an uncomfortable night. A couple of weeks ago Reece Robinson was preparing for a finals campaign with the Raiders' feeder club Souths Logan and an NRL final at CUA Stadium was the furthest thing from his mind. But after Joel Thompson picked up an injury Robinson got the call-up and has looked right at home on the end of the Canberra backline with four tries in just two appearances.
WE THINK: This promises to be a ferocious clash in the forwards with both sides boasting giant packs. Whichever set of forwards can get on top of their opposites will go a long way to winning this match. It's hard to separate these sides as both come into the finals in blistering form but home ground advantage may be just the little edge the Panthers need to get over the line and move one step closer to the decider. Panthers by 6
TEAMS:
Penrith Panthers: Michael Gordon, Sandor Earl, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, Adrian Purtell, Travis Burns, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston, Tim Grant, Trent Waterhouse, Frank Pritchard, Luke Lewis [c]. Interchange: Matthew Bell, Nathan Smith, Gavin Cooper, Wade Graham, Frank Puletua, Masada Iosefa (two to be omitted).
Canberra Raiders: Josh Dugan, Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Joel Monaghan, Daniel Vidot, Terry Campese [c], Josh McCrone, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Glen Buttriss, David Shillington, Joe Picker, Bronson Harrison, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Travis Waddell, Danny Galea, Dane Tilse, Scott Logan, Trevor Thurling (one to be omitted).