Struggling Parramatta will be buoyed by the return of Corey Norman as the Eels aim to end their troubled NRL season on a high note.

The Eels’ hopes of reaching the top eight effectively ended on Monday night with a 24-14 loss to fellow strugglers Gold Coast.

But coach Brad Arthur revealed after the match that Norman would most likely be fit for Saturday’s clash with Penrith in Darwin.

The 23-year-old five-eighth has been sidelined since injuring his knee in the round-19 loss to Canterbury last month.

Since then, the Eels have lost to the Cowboys and Titans as their finals hopes evaporated.

Centres Will Hopoate (hamstring) and Brad Takarangi (shoulder), who missed the loss to the Titans, are also expected to be fit for the Top End match against the Panthers.

Arthur says while the season may be set to end in disappointment, he still wants his team to have a big finish to the year.

“I want to make sure we keep playing with effort and keep turning up for each other,” he said.

“Obviously we need to improve our execution … we need to get better and we need to find ways to win.”