Penrith coach Ivan Cleary says he’d be worried if his underdogs don’t show any nerves as they prepare to face the massively favoured Roosters in Saturday’s NRL qualifying final at Allianz Stadium.

The Panthers will start rank outsiders against a star-studded and sizzling Roosters team that won six straight games to claim the minor premiership.

The fourth-placed Panthers are entering just their second finals series in the past decade.

“I haven’t noticed any nerves yet but I’m sure there will be,” Cleary said on Friday.

“I’d be worried if there weren’t actually.

“But it’s that balance between nerves and excitement and there will be nerves in their team too even though they’ve been there before.

“That’s just what semi-finals are about.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson said his players were feeling calm and suggested he was sticking to tried and trusted measures as they search for back-to-back titles.

“Keeping things pretty basic for the guys is nothing new, but allowing them to reach their potential on the field is really important,” Cleary said.

“The guys are pretty calm but fairly focused.”

Cleary wasn’t expecting too many surprises from the Roosters, but stressed it was a case of trying to combat their proven style of play.

“When they’re at their best over the last two years I think there’s been a real pattern to how they play,” Cleary said.

“I don’t think they’re a side that is going to come out with too many trick shots, it’s just a very strong game.

“They ask you whether you can cope with it and that’s what we’ve got to try and do.”