South Sydney have the luxury of naming an unchanged 17 after their comprehensive victory over Manly last week and the Rabbitohs will undoubtedly benefit from the cohesion that comes with fielding the same team over the entire finals series. Captain Adam Reynolds has been managing a groin-injury that has had some impact on his try-conversions and general-play kicking but the veteran playmaker is reportedly fit to play.

For the Panthers, mid-season recruit Tevita Pangai Junior will be missing with a knee injury in a blow to their middle-rotation. Moses Leota will return to the starting side after overcoming a calf injury, while Dylan Edwards and Brian To’o are also carrying injury clouds into the match but look set to take the field.

Penrith capitalised on a disjointed Melbourne attack last week in a superb defensive display that limited their opposition to just one try. Ivan Cleary’s troops will face a much sterner test against the playmaking brains-trust of South Sydney as both Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds have stepped-up enormously in the absence of Latrell Mitchell to have their squad’s attack humming. Penrith looked unaffected by fatigue against the Storm last week, impressive given they did not earn the rest their opposition did with a loss in week one of the finals. Souths managed to limit the Panthers’ attacking opportunities and win the field-position contest in their last meeting but with Dylan Edwards and Moses Leota coming back into the squad, Penrith should have an easier time getting off their own try-line. Both of these teams have shown enormous discipline and physicality to get themselves into the grand-final but expect the grand-final loss of last year to prove a powerful motivator for Penrith. Panthers to get the win and their first premiership since 2003.

Betting Tip: Panthers -3.5 @ $1.94 (Playup)