Eels coach Brad Arthur will weigh up using Ryan Matterson off the bench, with Marata Niukore a chance to start.
Meanwhile, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary will be tempted to use Api Koroisau off the bench in a ploy that worked wonders in the preliminary final.
Read on for all the Grand Final Early Mail.
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Is the Parramatta halfback curse a myth? | 03:24
GRAND FINAL SUNDAY OCTOBER 2
Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels at Accor Stadium, 7.30pm AEDT
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Sunia Turuva 22. Chris Smith
Players cut:
Early Mail: Taylan May has failed to recover from a hamstring injury, with Charlie Staines holding his place on the wing. Staines and Viliame Kikau escaped suspensions for shoulder charge offences and are free to play after being fined. Kikau has a hand injury that required him to be in a brace, but is expected to play through the pain. Staines, Izack Tago, Mitch Kenny and Jaeman Salmon are the four new faces from last year’s grand final win over Souths. Api Koroisau is a chance to start on the bench, with Kenny to begin the game at dummyhalf in a ploy Ivan Cleary has used several times in the back end of the year.
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Klein chosen as referee for Grand Final | 01:09
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Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Nathan Brown 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Marata Niukore 18. Bryce Cartwright 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Tom Opacic 21. Ofahiki Ogden 22. Ky Rodwell
Players cut:
Early Mail: Brad Arthur has recalled out of favour enforcer Nathan Brown to the bench after 12 weeks out of the side, with Bryce Cartwright pushed to the reserves. Tom Opacic has failed to recover from a hamstring injury, despite being named in the reserves, with Bailey Simonsson expected to retain his place at centre. Makahesi Makatoa has been named in the reserves despite playing 24 games this season in a brutal call, with Jakob Arthur holding his place on the bench. Marata Niukore could be a late swap with Ryan Matterson at lock in a ploy Arthur used against the Cowboys.
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