While others might be concerned the Sharks will be missing five key players, Coach Shane Flanagan is eagerly anticipating what the game against the Panthers might bring.
As told to the media in his weekly press conference, Flanagan expressed his excitement about seeing the likes of Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Capewell, Jesse Sene-Lafao and Matt McIlwirck in action, with the quartet to play their first games in the NRL in 2016.
For three of those players, Capewell, Sene-Lafao and McIlwrick, it will be their first outings in the top grade in Sharks colours, while for the former Ipswich Jet Capewell, Sunday will mark his NRL debut.
Flanagan also weighed in on a number of other topics affecting both his team and the NRL at the present time, however the main messages centred around the Penrith game on Sunday and how a win against the odds would provide his squad with not only a 13th consecutive win, but also with another boost of confidence as the season approaches the business end.
See what the coach had to say, with the full press conference now playing on Sharks TV.