NRL Match Preview: Preliminary Final v Panthers

Siosifa Talakai will replace Jesse Ramien in Cronulla's NRL preliminary final against the Panthers tomorrow night after the centre's withdrawal due to an ankle injury.

With Talakai elevated to the run-on side, utility playmaker Daniel Atkinson has joined the interchange in his place. Mawene Hiroti is now the 18th man.

To become a champion you must defeat a champion – and that's exactly what the Sharks are out to do when they face the reigning Panthers at Accor Stadium.

If they're to progress to the decider and earn a shot at premiership glory, the Sharks are tasked with spoiling Penrith's plans of a historic four-peat.

It won't be easy – the Panthers are aiming to qualify for their fifth-straight grand final and have won 10 consecutive playoffs games, a feat not accomplished since the mighty Dragons of the 1950-60s – but the Sharks exude a calm confidence.

After flinging the monkey off their back by claiming a breakthrough 26-18 semi-final victory against the Cowboys last week, Cronulla have snapped the shackles of expectation and won't be fazed by their underdog status.

"I wouldn't say it's a free hit – I think that's probably a dangerous mentality going into a game against a team like Penrith," Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.

"But for obvious reasons, they'll be roaring favourites – and rightly so.

"(They're) three-time premiers, they've got plenty to play for with some milestones, some players leaving, a number of reasons. But the greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity as well for us. Again, we're just so excited.

"Looking forward to it, but we understand it's going to be difficult. We can't wait."

The Panthers will enter the match after a 15-day turnaround, having earned a week off with a 30-10 win over the Roosters to open their finals campaign.

While they're perhaps not the all-conquering dominant force of previous years, enduring a few stumbles in the regular season amid injuries to key men including Nathan Cleary, Penrith's class and big-game experience will take them a long way.

Naturally, the spotlight will be fixed on the halves pairings: Cronulla's Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall against Panthers duo Cleary and Jarome Luai. 

However, after linking up wonderfully last week, Fitzgibbon wants his playmakers to maintain an inward focus rather than striving to outpoint their opposite numbers.

Hynes will be determined to mark his 100th NRL match with a win.

"I don't know if it's about getting one over anyone," Fitzgibbon said.

"I think it's about what they do for the team. I thought that was their strongest combination game (against the Cowboys), the way they played together.

"For our team to play well, those guys need to connect our team together – all the while knowing the quality of opponent in front of them. That's a really good challenge for those boys and it'll be another huge step in their development."

While both clubs were admitted to the first-grade competition in 1967, the Sharks and Panthers have contested just one finals match – won 21-20 by Cronulla in 2018.

Penrith prevailed 42-0 when the teams met earlier this season, however Hynes was forced off during the first half with a calf injury on that occasion.

As far as the Sharks are concerned, past results and opinions mean very little.

"We're going after the game like we do every week," captain Cam McInnes declared.

"On the outside people probably aren't giving us a chance, but that's probably been every so-perceived 'big game' for the last three years, so what's different this week?"

In more team news, Cronulla's Kayal Iro is good to go despite a slight wrist injury.

Kick-off is at 7.50pm. CLICK HERE to secure a ticket.

A fleet of shuttle buses will be on hand to fast-track Sharks supporters to and from Accor Stadium – CLICK HERE for more information.

If you're not headed to the game, catch the action on 9, 9Now, Foxtel or Kayo – or watch the action on big screens at the Sharks Finals Fever live site.

See the updated team lists below.