The Panthers are gunning for a third straight premiership, while the Warriors have ridden some solid momentum into a top-four spot on the ladder.

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The Kiwi-based outfit suffered an enormous blow during the week, with star halfback Shaun Johnson ruled out due to injury.

The winner gets a week off and a home final for the preliminary — at Accor Stadium if the Panthers win — while the loser will have to play the Knights or Raiders in next week’s elimination final with a chance to take a trip to Brisbane to play the Broncos if they can win.

4.40pm — Turuva makes it three

This is quickly going against the Warriors.

Winger Sunia Turuva is the latest to score for the Panthers, winning the race to the corner after his teammates put him on the outside.

It’s 18-0 and looking rough for the Warriors.

4.32pm — Liam Martin puts Warriors to sword

The Warriors are up against it after Liam Martin ran through a hole for the Panthers’ second try.

The Panthers have been workman like, building their way up the field to put pressure on the Warriors.

But Martin — and Cleary’s conversion — have made it 12-0 after 20 minutes.

While 12-0 is not fatal by an means, it may well be against the Panthers, who average just 13 points against.

Although they conceded 32 against the Eels just two weeks ago, it’s probably hard to imagine the juggernaut that is the Panthers will let too much through in such an important game.

4.12pm — Panthers do what they do

There’s plenty feeling the Wahs might ride the goodwill from across Australia and New Zealand to a win but the Panthers don’t care about sentimentality.

While the Warriors are the feel good story of the year, the Panthers have barged over through Brian To’o to open the scoring at BlueBet Stadium in the fourth minute of the game.

Getting down low, To’o was able to slam the ball down on the line to give the Panthers the perfect start.

4pm — Shaun Johnson truth a Warriors nightmare

Shaun Johnson being ruled out of the qualifying final against the Panthers in Penrith makes the Warriors’ job even harder but the coach has delivered a shock admission.

Even with a full-strength side against the twice-defending champions and minor premiers, it’s about as hard an assignment as you can get.

But Andrew Webster admitted on Channel 9 before the match kicked off that even if it was an elimination final, Johnson would not have played.

At 33, Johnson isn’t getting any younger and a calf injury isn’t ideal.

Johnson told Fox Sports that at training “I felt a bit of a shock through it.

“Went and got a scan and got the results from that and it was always going to be a race against the clock. A couple of runs I had to see where I was at didn’t go as planned.

“Frustrating bro, really frustrating but the right decision has been made.”

Johnson wasn’t committal that if the Warriors have to play next week that he would be part of the team.

“I hope so, it is day by day, I’m not going to say I’ll be right to go. Day by day but we’re planning on taking the week off and that would be a massive help.”

But also not having Johnson gives the Warriors a chance to throw everything at the ball because regardless of the result, there is still a tomorrow.

“I think they just go all out, they get out there and have fun and try to play their natural game,” Cameron Smith said on Nine’s coverage.

“If they want to try to off-load a little bit with Fonua-Blake and play a little bit of football that is a bit foreign to the Panthers defence, I think go for it.

“They’ve got nothing to lose. If they are able to come up with what many people believe would be an upset, they then get a week off and a preliminary final in New Zealand. It’s huge. Huge.

“So it’s a free shot at stumps for mine.”