Panthers a finals hope, coach says

PENRITH have won just one match against top-eight teams but coach Anthony Griffin is backing his side to turn it on tonight in the charge towards the NRL finals.

Two points out of the eight, the Panthers have won seven of their past nine games to sit ninth ahead of the clash with lowly ranked Canterbury.

They face the struggling Wests Tigers in a fortnight, before finals hopefuls North Queensland, St George Illawarra and Manly in three of their last four games.

It shapes as a difficult run home for the in-form Panthers, given their 1-7 record against top-eight teams.

“You’ve only got to beat who you play every week,” said Griffin (pictured).

“Looking and dissecting who has won and who hasn’t and what the draw is ... it just ends up confusing you a bit.

“I’ve got total confidence in the guys we’ve got that if we can get ourselves in the right form and fitness, we can compete against anyone.”

Regardless, it makes tonight’s match vital – a loss could put them four points back, assuming the Dragons beat Newcastle.