First vs last looks on paper to be a complete mismatch but with Penrith resting a host of Origin stars after Wednesday night the Wests Tigers will give themselves a chance of causing an upset.
No fewer than seven of Ivan Cleary's men part of the Blues squad won't play following series decider.
No such luxury for the Tigers who need all hands on deck and firing at the same time if they are to turn CommBank Stadium into their field of dreams for the third time in 2022 after upsetting the Eels and Rabbitohs there in the space of five days in April.
That must feel like a lifetime ago for the Tigers, who have lost eight of nine since then and parted company with coach Michael Maguire, leaving Brett Kimmorley to try and salvage something from the wreck.
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The Rundown
Team news
Wests Tigers: In a late switch, Luke Garner will start in the back row with Justin Matamua moving to the bench.
James Roberts and David Nofoaluma dropped out on Saturday with Asu Kepaoa coming in at centre and Junior Tupou on the wing.
Star playmaker Adam Doueihi moves to five-eighth, Jackson Hastings goes to lock and Joe Ofahengaue to prop as Brett Kimmorley searches for a winning combination.
Skipper James Tamou back on deck after missing two games with a calf injury and fellow veteran Ken Maumalo (knee) also returns.
Panthers: A change on Saturday with Spencer Leniu dropping off the bench and his place taken by Lindsay Smith.
Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton and Api Koroisau are all being rested after Origin III with Sean O'Sullivan and Kurt Falls taking over in the halves, Robert Jennings in the centres, Charlie Staines on the wing and Mitch Kenny, Chris Smith and Matt Eisenhuth in the pack. Soni Luke is the new face on the bench in his third career game.
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Key match-up
Daine Laurie vs Dylan Edwards: Laurie has been a constant threat since returning from injury in round 12, racking up 18 tackle breaks and averaging 125 running metres per match. The Tigers have lost all five of those games but without Laurie's penetration from the back they may have been beaten by even bigger margins. Edwards keeps on keeping on at Penrith, churning out 218 metres per game and busting 62 tackles for the season as he provides the perfect link between flashy playmakers Cleary and Luai and tryscoring machines Brian To'o and Taylan May. As he closes in on 100 career games, Edwards continues to enhance his reputation as one of the game's elite fullbacks.
Stat Attack
Dylan Edwards leads the Panthers in post-contact metres this season with 971 at an average of 60 per match. The elusive fullback's dynamic kick returns continue to put Penrith on the front foot before the likes of Taylan May (810 post-contact metres) and Stephen Crichton (757) carry on the good work. The Panthers lead the NRL with 10,175 post-contact metres.
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