Penrith have avoided a back-row crisis with Hame Sele cleared of a broken arm.

The Panthers said that scans had cleared him of major injury after going down in Sunday’s NRL loss to western Sydney rivals Parramatta.

Sele is now racing the clock to prove he is fit for Saturday’s round two clash with Newcastle.

To lose Sele for an extended period of time would have been a body blow with Viliame Kikau, who he replaced in the Panthers starting side, still three weeks away from returning from a knee injury.

As well, skipper Isaah Yeo must this week pass concussion protocols after copping an ugly high shot from Michael Jennings, for which the Panthers centre was suspended.