With their confidence boosted following a 24-22 victory over the Cowboys at their last start the NYC Sharks will travel to Bathurst this weekend looking for similar success against a Penrith side battling to stay in touch with the top eight.
The Sharks recovered from an 18-6 first half deficit in beating North Queensland in what was their first victory since round five.
While gratefully accepting the win, coach Dave Howlett realises further improvement will be needed if the young Sharks hope to get the better of a Panthers side which proved too good in a 32-20 victory over the Cronulla side back in round 8.
The Panthers enter the game off a loss to the Roosters at their last start.
The Sharks will again look to fullback Valentine Holmes for his attacking brilliance, however it will take a team effort in the forwards against a physical Panthers pack if the Sharks are to have success on Saturday.
Also included in the Sharks team are two of the four local products recently named in the Australian Schoolboys squad, with Connor Tracey to play in the halves, Jayden Brailey as an interchange hooker.
The match is the second of three games to be played at Carrington Park in Bathurst between the Sharks and Panthers, with the NYC kickoff scheduled for 10.40am.
For those unable to get to Bathurst the game will be televised live on Fox Sports.
NYC Team List – round 20
Sharks v Panthers
Saturday, July 26
Carrington Park, Bathurst
Kickoff – 10.40am
1 Valentine Holmes
2 Finlay Dibley
3 Paul Simona
4 Jamayne Isaako
5 Joshua Addo-Carr
6 Jaden Clarke
7 Connor Tracey
8 Kurt Dillon
9 Bradley Deitz
10 Jake Goodwin
11 Anthony Moraitis (C)
12 Patrice Siolo
13 Winstone Asotasi
INTERCHANGE
14 Jayden Brailey
15 Sage Wilder
16 Alec Susino
17 Kalausa Leha
