VENUE & TIME: CUA Stadium, Saturday, September 4, 7.30pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Fox Sports.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 77 – Sharks 39, Panthers 35.
LAST TIME: Round 10, 2010 – Penrith 34-14.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Panthers will be without the services of Petero Civoniceva after the skipper was handed a two-match ban for his high shot on Gary Warburton against Canterbury-Bankstown. Prop Tim Grant returns from a high-ankle sprain and has been rushed into the starting line-up despite missing the last two matches. Half-back Luke Walsh (ankle) will also be missing for the hosts, with Cronulla-bound young-gun Wade Graham to wear the No.7 jumper in his absence. The resurgent Sharks have named an unchanged line-up following last week's upset win over Gold Coast.
FORM: The Panthers got away with murder against the Bulldogs as Michael Jennings scored in the final minute to snatch a 24-18 win and secure a top-four berth. The Mountain Men showed the poise of a genuine premiership contender as they overcame a 16-0 deficit - as well as the loss of Civoniceva in the 70th minute - to steal the points. A win this weekend would see the Panthers finish in second spot provided the Titans can beat the Tigers on Friday night, while a loss would see the Panthers slip to fourth if the Titans are victorious. The Sharks produced easily their best performance of the campaign on the way to a 30-16 victory over the Titans at Shark Park last Saturday. It was their second win in six matches under new coach Shane Flanagan and should give the long suffering Sharks faithful reason to believe next season won't be quite so miserable. The formidable Sharks pack won the battle of the ruck while their error count of nine was very respectable considering their willingness to throw the ball around.
WHO'S HOT: Travis Burns almost single-handedly dragged the Panthers across the line against the Bulldogs. With his halves partner Luke Walsh forced from the field in the 45th minute, Burns controlled proceedings brilliantly with his pinpoint kicking game before charging down Brett Kimmorley's attempted field-goal to set up Jennings' match winner. Sharks enforcer Paul Gallen was simply unstoppable against the Titans, running for an awesome 234m to send a timely reminder to Kangaroos selectors ahead of next month's Four Nations campaign. Much-maligned half-back Tim Smith also had one of his best games for the club, while Raiders-bound winger Blake Ferguson was dangerous every time he touched the ball.
WE THINK: Cronulla are yet to win consecutive games this season and, although they are definitely capable of upsetting the Panthers this weekend, we expect Matt Elliott's men will be too strong. Last week's win over the Titans was like a grand final for the Sharkies, so don't be surprised if they suffer a major let down this weekend. The loss of Civoniceva and Walsh is significant but the Panthers still possess threats all over the park and should do it easily in the end. Panthers by 14
TEAMS:
Panthers:
1. Michael Gordon, 2. Sandor Earl, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Brad Tighe, 5. Adrian Purtell, 6. Travis Burns, 7. Wade Graham, 8. Sam McKendry, 9. Kevin Kingston, 10. Tim Grant, 11. Trent Waterhouse, 12. Frank Pritchard, 13. Luke Lewis
Reserves: 14. Daine Laurie, 15. Matthew Bell, 16. Nathan Smith,