James Maloney is back at Penrith training and coach Anthony Griffin can only hope his return signals a reversal in the Panthers' fortunes heading into the NRL finals.
Six rounds ago Penrith sat atop the ladder, marginally ahead of St George Illawarra but well placed for their best title assault since their 2003 premiership.
Then State of Origin arrived.
Halves Nathan Cleary and Maloney disappeared - featuring in just three training sessions over a seven-week period. Utility Tyrone Peachey went with them and prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard broke his jaw.
Penrith have won one of their past five and, after Brisbane's defeat of Cronulla on Thursday night, dropped to seventh, with a game in hand.
But finally this week Maloney has returned for a full training week for the clash with Manly, having sat out last week's preparations with a foot injury.
"It's the first week in a long time we've had both (Maloney and Cleary) on the park. That's going to help them and the team," Griffin said.
"They've had a couple of good sessions, the whole team has had a couple of good sessions so I'm sure that is going to help us.
"A lot of clubs have been through it and we've been through it. I think as soon as we take that mentality away and get back to what we do best the better."
The encounter with Manly at Lottoland has entered rare air in terms of teams with poor form meeting each other.
It's just the fifth time in premiership history and the first time since 2003 that two teams have met after both conceded 50 points the previous week.
While the Sea Eagles simply have pride on the line in terms of avoiding their first wooden spoon with Dylan Walker and Jorge Taufua returning from injury after last week's heavy loss to the Sydney Roosters, the Panthers have much more ahead of them.
With just four points separating first and eighth on the ladders Penrith are still very much in the top-four race, despite last week's flogging to Brisbane.
"I feel good," Griffin said.
"The reasons we've had a little bit of a dry patch over the past month is because we've been strong over the rest of the year.
"I'm sure we're going to find that form again. We've had a good week of training and looking forward to tomorrow."
STATS THAT MATTER:
* Penrith have lost five of their past seven when conceding 50 points the previous game.
* Manly have lost seven of their past nine when conceding 50 points the previous game.
* Manly are aiming to avoid a sixth-straight loss at Brookvale for just the second time in their history.
* Stats: Fox Sports Stats.
