Down and desperate, Penrith have received mana from heaven with barnstorming back-rower Viliame Kikau making a miraculous recovery from an ankle injury to take on the Wests Tigers on Friday.
Kikau was expected to out long-term but trained strongly during Thursday's captain's run and barring a late setback he will boost the Panthers for their NRL Magic Round clash at Suncorp Stadium.
The Panthers are winless since taking on the Tigers a month ago and are already facing a massive injury toll with Isaah Yeo (shoulder) and Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (ribs) being ruled out this week.
To make matters worse, coach Ivan Cleary made the difficult decision to drop centre Waqa Blake for disciplinary reasons and lock Hame Sele was sidelined with a back problem.
It was feared that Kikau was going to spend at least six weeks in the rehab ward after being carried off last week, but after running without issue he is ready to terrorise the Tigers.
Tyrell Fuimaono will slot in at centre for Blake after he missed training after misreading a team schedule while Sione Katoa will lock the scrum in Sele's absence.
Cleary said it was difficult to drop Blake with his side in 15th and at 2-6 but said standards filtered through to the rest of the side.
"It's nothing major but it's extremely disappointing as well. Standards are the most important thing," he said.
Cleary also went in to bat for his under-fire halves pairing of his son Nathan and James Maloney, who are in danger of losing their NSW halves spots.
This year Penrith have had more tackles (33.6 per game) inside the opposition red zone but score the second fewest points (14.1 per game).
"I think our halves have been two of our best performers," Cleary said.
"We're just not getting the points. It's a 13-man game and if everyone is doing their job it'll make it easier for those guys.
"Collectively we can all play better, but I've been really happy with the efforts of our halves and spine in particular."
Meanwhile, the Tigers are set to welcome back playmaker Benji Marshall from a hamstring injury.
STATS THAT MATTER
* The Panthers have won 21 of 33 games against the Wests Tigers (63.6 per cent), their best win percentage against all current teams.
* Nathan Cleary is 11 points shy of 500 career points. If he gets there in this match Cleary, at 21 years and 177 days, will become the youngest player to achieve the feat since Graham Eadie did so in 1975, aged 21 years and 174 days.
