Veteran Peter Wallace is adamant Penrith can overcome the speculation over captain Matt Moylan's future which threatens to damage their NRL finals campaign.
Moylan was set to meet with club general manager Phil Gould on Monday amid reports that he is unhappy and rival clubs are circling.
It's bad timing for Penrith who are preparing for a sudden-death final against at Allianz Stadium Manly on Saturday.
Fronting the NRL finals launch in place of Moylan on Monday, Wallace denied the saga would affect their chances of reversing last Saturday's defeat by the Sea Eagles.
"There's never a good time but it just so happens to be now," Wallace said.
"It's not a distraction for us. I know the whole team's excited about playing this week and they're not going to let anything distract us. It's got nothing to do with us.
"Matt and the club will sort that out and then move forward."
Wallace is currently deputising as skipper for an injured Moylan but believes the 26-year-old should remain the long-term captain, a role he was appointed to at the start of last season.
"Moyza's the captain and there's a lot of pressure that comes from being a captain. I think he's handled it the best he can. It's all a learning curve too when you first start," Wallace said.
"Obviously I want him to stay. He's an integral part of what we're trying to do here. I'd love to see him stay but that's obviously between Matt and the club and they'll sort that out."
Moylan's fitness status for the Manly clash is also up in the air after he missed the team's final two regular season games with a hamstring injury.
Rookie fullback Dylan Edwards too is racing the clock to overcome a knee injury, and Wallace wasn't confident either player would prove their fitness in time for Sunday's elimination final.
"I don't expect them to play, (but) I'm hoping they will play," Wallace said.
"They're going to have to do some running this week and some fitness tests to see how they're travelling and there'll be a call made later in the week.
"Obviously we'd love to get them back but they're going to have to do a bit of work before they prove their fitness."
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is likely to be named at fullback after Dean Whare was switched out of the position midway through Saturday's game at Lottoland.
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