St George Illawarra’s Mitch Rein (ankle) and Matt Cooper (toe) are yet to be cleared to return this weekend with the pair needing to complete the final training run before getting the green light.
If they fail, Cameron King will return to the starting side and Matt Prior will move into the centres again to cover for Cooper. The Panthers are unchanged from the side that mauled the Warriors last week.
Off the back of a resurgent Josh Dugan, who made his return to the NRL after nine weeks away from the game due to disciplinary reason, the Dragons had their best win of the season last round.
They thumped the Parramatta Eels by 20 points as the side’s attack, which had bee blasted by pundits for being predictable and lacking creativity, suddenly came to life.
The unsung heroes of the win were the Dragons’ forward pack which laid on an excellent platform for the likes of Jamie Soward, Jason Nightingale and Dugan to run amok.
Penrith will be out to continue their impressive two-match winning streak which has seen them claim the scalps of Melbourne and the New Zealand Warriors, who were smashed by 56 points.
Dragons: Josh Dugan, Daniel Vidot, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward, Nathan Fien, Dan Hunt, Mitch Rein, Michael Weyman, Bronson Harrison, Ben Creagh, Trent Merrin. Interchange: Tyson Frizell, Matt Prior, Jack de Belin, Jack Stockwell, Cameron King
Panthers: Matt Moylan, Travis Robinson, Lewis Brown, Dean Whare, David Simmons, Isaac John, Luke Walsh, Nigel Plum, Kevin Kingston, Tim Grant, Sika Manu, Matt Robinson, Adam Docker. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Mose Masoe, Clint Newton, Ryan Simpkins
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