Panthers could lose five players for Tigers clash

Penrith players insist the loss of up to five players through injury and suspension won't derail attempts to resurrect their season in Brisbane this weekend. 

The Panthers were on Monday night still determining the extent of injuries to second-rower pair Isaah Yeo (shoulder) and Viliame Kikau (ankle) after Saturday's 30-12 loss to Canberra in Wagga Wagga. The results of scans were not as clear cut as expected.

Winger Malakai Watene-Zelezniak also picked up a rib injury. 

With forward Liam Martin receiving a one-game ban for a dangerous throw and five-eighth James Maloney to defend a grade-one dangerous contact charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary could be forced to make up to five changes for the clash with Wests Tigers.

New Zealand international Dean Whare is set to return after overcoming a hamstring injury which has sidelined him since the round six loss to Cronulla.

Whare said the Panthers could draw inspiration from the Sharks defeat of Melbourne last Friday night, without four of their biggest stars.

"To have the injuries and possibly suspensions all in one game is going to hit us pretty hard but it gives an opportunity for someone else to come back in," Whare said.

"If you watched the games on the weekend, a lot of teams have been hit hard by injuries and they performed – especially Cronulla – so we have got an opportunity to do the same thing.

"I know that the younger guys and the guys who haven't been playing are hungry to get back in and to make a name for themselves and stay in the team for the rest of the year."

Forward Frank Winterstein is also set to make his first appearance since injuring his knee in the 9-8 defeat of Wests Tigers, while Jerome Luai is on standby for Maloney.

Whare played opposite fellow Kiwis centre Esan Marsters the last time the two teams met but he was unsure which side of the field he would be on in Brisbane.

"I'm pretty excited about this weekend," Whare said. "It was a tough game last time and we were lucky to get the win so we will trying to it's up to us to play well."