Canberra are one win away from the NRL grand final after holding off a fast-finishing Penrith 22-12.
The Raiders led 18-0 with 20 minutes remaining on Saturday night when the Panthers set up a grandstand finishing by scoring two tries within seven minutes to pull within six points.
But Canberra captain Jarrod Croker sealed the win with two penalty goals in the final 10 minutes, booking his team a preliminary-final date next Saturday with the Storm in Melbourne.