Canberra co-captain Jarrod Croker is expecting Penrith to come “running off the back fence” in front of a sold-out NRL crowd on Sunday afternoon.
The Panthers looked destined for the wooden spoon after slumping to the bottom of the ladder after 10 rounds, but have remarkably turned things around and have won seven straight games.
The Raiders have been in the top four almost all season and could secure a two-win buffer from the chasing pack, with a third consecutive victory.
Croker admitted Penrith have conjured a “pretty special” turnaround in 2019 but backed his Green Machine to tame the hungry Panthers.
“It’s a 4pm game and they’re talking a full house at Penrith for a side that’s playing some pretty good footy,” Croker said.
“We shouldn’t be lacking any enthusiasm this weekend. Penrith are a tough opposition and they’re playing an exciting brand of football.
“They’re a good side but an even better side with confidence and you don’t have much more confidence than seven wins in a row.
“They tend to build momentum and confidence towards the back end of the season but it’s still one of the more amazing turnarounds I’ve seen.
“It’s a big challenge. They’ll be running off the back fence.”
Canberra boast the second-best defence in the NRL but Croker said keeping things simple in attack was also part of the reason they look set to play finals for the second time in seven years.
“We’ve simplified our game a lot. It’s pleasing to be able to win games off the back of our defence but in attack I think we’ve just played a lot more simple,” Croker said.
“(Hooker) Hodgo (Josh Hodgson) and (halfback) Aidan Sezer, they’re playing really direct and leading the side around really well and it frees up guys like (five-eighth) Jack (Wighton).
“We’ve also got some quality backrowers who can ball play a bit as well.”
Raiders veteran Sia Soliola will play his 100th game for the club, the former New Zealand international expecting another tough contest.
“The occasion sets itself, just seeing how they’ve performed, especially over the last couple of months … they’ve got some great results,” Soliola said.
“Our desperation got us over the line last week (against Wests Tigers) and it was courageous but if we’re going to be fair dinkum, we need to be better against a really powerful Penrith pack.”