Nathan Cleary can claim a piece of NRL history against Canberra on Saturday as he sets his sights on Ryan Girdler's all-time Penrith club pointscoring record.
The 19-year-old Panthers No.7 needs just eight more points to become the youngest player to rack up 200 points in a season.
He leads the league for points scored this year with 192 from 10 tries and 76 goals and has a chance to move past Graham Eadie who scored 216 points for Manly in 1974 as a 20-year-old.
Cleary has been a sensation for the Panthers since debuting in round 13 last year, scoring 310 points in 36 games in that time.
If he keeps that trajectory and can play the game long enough he'd certainly trouble Ryan Girdler's club pointscoring record of 1572 points for the his career is out.
His rate of scoring has been so impressive that eight points against the Raiders at GIO Stadium on Sunday will see him move into the Panthers' top 10 pointscoring list.
He has been a driving force behind the club's charge to the finals which has seen them win their last six games to enter round 24 in sixth.
"It's a big game and it's nice to be playing in big games this time of year," coach Anthony Griffin said.
"Canberra - it doesn't get much tougher than on the road against them."
Sunday's clash is do-or-die for the Raiders who have won three straight to be two wins outside the top eight.
The Raiders will also have revenge on their minds after the Panthers came from the clouds to score twice in the last two minutes to snatch their last meeting.
The Panthers will be without hooker Peter Wallace (broken hand) however Griffin said they were confident of having him back next week.
Griffin also confirmed that back-rower Trent Merrin would return from a knee injury. It was initially feared it was set to rule him out for the season.
"Trent's got a lot of experience, he's a Test player, he's done a great job for us over the last two years," Griffin said.
"That type of forward, coming into our side, particularly against these guys, it's a real boost for us."
STATS THAT MATTER
* Canberra have won seven of 10 matches when leading at halftime, but just three of 11 when trailing or level at the break.
* The Panthers will be aiming for a seventh straight win for the first time in a season since 2003, the same year they won the competition.
Source: Fox Sports Stats
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