With their Origin stars, Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods, back in the staring line up for last week’s clash against Canberra, the Tigers started warm favourites for the game at Campbelltown Stadium.

However it was only a Braith Anasta field goal with eight minutes left to play that saw the Tigers home 19 – 18 and record only their third win from their past seven matches.

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Farrah and Woods will be missing from this game and in another blow for the home-side, so too will fullback James Tedesco and centre Tim Simona, omissions you don’t need when facing an in-form and confident Panthers outfit.

It’s the third game the Tigers have taken to Leichhardt this year but there record at the ground in recent times isn’t as strong as it use to be.

They’ve loss two of the last three clashes at the venue and with a several significant changes to their line-up here; they may be hard pressed to improve that record here.

It starts a horror run in term of the draw for the Tigers which see them take on Manly, Canterbury, Dragons, Melbourne and Cowboys (away) in the coming weeks.

A win here is a must for the season to be alive in another month.

PANTHERS

The Panthers suffered their first loss in six weeks when falling ten points short against the Warriors in New Zealand last week, 30 – 20.

The Warriors scored twice inside of the first fifteen minutes of the match but three tries to the Panthers in the final twelve minutes of the first half, had them right back in the game and leading 16 – 12 at the break.

Unfortunately for the Panthers though, the half-time break only stopped their momentum and they returned for the second half not the same side.

A string of unforced errors, penalties and a poor completion rate, provided the Warriors with opportunities they duly capitalised on.

It was a game that got away from the Panthers and one they’ll be looking for redemption on.

For the last 15 minutes of the first half, they dominated a strong Warriors outfit and looked every bit of a team that will venture well into the finals.

If they can maintain that effort here, they’ll jump straight back into the winner’s stall with victory over an undermanned Tigers.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Tigers have dominated the Panthers in recent years, having won the past seven matches played since 2010.

The Panthers will no get a better opportunity to break the drought here though and the Panthers have won their last two matches when visiting Leichhardt (2009 and 2002).

Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace have formed a formidable halves combination and are enjoying playing behind a workman-like forward pack that should be able to get the better of the opposite numbers this week.

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Teams:

WEST TIGERS:  Blake Austin, David Nofoaluma, Keith Lulia, Chris Lawrence, Pat Richards, Braith Anasta (c), Luke Brooks, Martin Taupau, Joel Luani, Keith Galloway, Curtis Sironen, Bodene Thompson, Adam Blair. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Ava Seumanufagai, Sitaleki Akauola, Jack Buchanan.

PANTHERS: Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Dean Whare, Jamal Idris, Kevin Naiqama, Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace, Sam McKendry, James Segeyaro, Brent Kite, Sika Manu, Elijah Taylor, Adam Docker. Interchange: Tyrone Peachey, Jeremy Latimore, Lewis Brown, Nigel Plum, Bryce Cartwright.