Penrith will give fullback Dylan Edwards every chance to return from a knee injury to face Manly in Saturday's elimination final.
Edwards is one of a host of key players across several clubs poised to make a potential return this week.
Sydney Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has also been named on an extended bench as he battles to overcome a groin issue to face Brisbane on Friday night, while forwards Dylan Napa and Aidan Guerra are both back after being rested last week.
Kodi Nikorima will line up at fullback for the Broncos in place of injured captain Darius Boyd, while Benji Marshall slots in at halfback.
Wade Graham and Jack Bird are both back for Cronulla ahead of their clash with North Queensland, who are unchanged for a third-straight week.
The news isn't as good for Parramatta, who have opted to give fullback Bevan French another week in rehabilitation with a hamstring injury.
But it is the potential return of Edwards which is most crucial of all for the weekend, given Panthers captain Matt Moylan has not been named as he remains on personal leave.
Edwards failed to train on Tuesday with his Panthers teammates because of a medial ligament strain which ruled him out of the weekend loss to the Sea Eagles.
"I don't know about (Edwards) - it's touch and go I think," teammate Reagan Campbell-Gillard said.
"He's doing everything he could possibly do to get himself right. It's only a short week."
Tyrone May will again fill in at five-eighth, meaning the Panthers will run out a halves pairing with just 46 games' experience.
May (seven games) and Nathan Cleary (39) have around a quarter of the experience of Manly playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans (169).
As well, Dean Whare, who is expected to fill in at fullback if Edwards does not recover in time, has made just 13 appearances in the No.1 jersey.
Before last week, he hadn't played at fullback since round six in 2013 while at Manly.
"You can say it's inexperience or lack of game time but we've got people here who are capable of filling the role," Panthers winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak said.
"That's what we've done all year. Those guys will do a tremendous job and do the jersey proud. It just shows the depth we have here at the club."
The Panthers were bashed and bruised after their final-round loss to Manly with Tim Browne, Trent Merrin and Waqa Blake also failing to train or receiving an early mark on Tuesday. However, all are expected to play.
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