THE seasons of the Panthers and Warriors go on the line at ANZ Stadium, with elimination in week one of finals set to be a bitterly disappointing end for one club.

PANTHERS
James Maloney’s three week injury absence was a blessing in disguise for Penrith. The gruelling season, particularly the Origin period, took its toll on the veteran playmaker who will be fresh and firing for the Panthers’ elimination final. Maloney’s return also takes enormous pressure off Nathan Cleary, with the halfback now able to focus on his role without having to overcompensate creatively as he was forced to do without his regular five-eighth on deck. We’ve seen Penrith look relentless in various periods throughout 2018, but consistency in big games over consecutive weeks has eluded them all season. If they don’t click as a unit on Saturday night it’ll be curtains for the mid-season ladder leaders.

WARRIORS
We’ve witnessed a Warriors culture this year we’ve sought for so long. They’ve been characterised by defensive resilience, a strong away record and a newfound calmness led by astute signing Blake Green. Despite the progression, the men from across the Tasman face the prospect of another early exit. Lingering injuries to their devastating right edge of Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris have somewhat restricted them at times in 2018, but both men now appear fully fit meaning they hold the keys to victory against Penrith. With Johnson, the quality of opposition is almost irrelevant. If the electric playmaker fires, the Warriors can bury the Panthers and make a charge into week two of the finals.