Penrith will tread a fine line between letting their players at last embrace a proper grand final build up this week while still attempting to minimise the risk of COVID-19 heartbreak.
One of only three clubs to qualify for three straight grand finals this century, the Panthers will finally have a clear run in the week before the decider after two years of preparing in bubbles due to the pandemic.
Locked out of Sydney last season and in strict conditions ahead of the 2020 decider in front of a half-capacity crowd, Ivan Cleary's men are yet to properly experience a normal grand final week and the busy schedule that comes with it.
But COVID still remains a threat, with players from both teams tested daily and one positive case enough to ruin a grand final appearance.
Parramatta and Penrith will run open training sessions on Monday and Tuesday respectively, while still trying to minimise risk of contracting the virus.
Fences will likely be erected at the Eels' Kellyville base, where the excitement around Parramatta's attempt at ending their 36-year title drought will be the story of the week.
Penrith will also have the barrier of the grandstand at BlueBet Stadium with players from both teams to be told not to physically interact.
Beyond that, several commitments remain.
It's anticipated players from both teams will be sectioned off from others at Wednesday night's Dally M awards, in another bid to keep the grand final combatants clear of the virus.
Ten Penrith players will be there as nominees for awards but Nathan Cleary will be given a night off, with the halfback out of contention in any case following his late-season ban.
Players will also attend a fanfest in Sydney on Thursday, where they will again be sectioned off on stage, before a grand final lunch on Friday for captains and coaches.
"It'll be nice to experience all of it," Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards said.
"They're all different. We were up in (Sunshine) Coast last year, it was completely different.
"We'll be down here, there is a bit more stuff to do this week compared to the last couple of years we've been in."
Penrith's preparation will also be different on the field.
Battered by injuries before last season's decider, the Panthers spent the majority of those finals training without a core group of their top team.
This year their only two serious fitness concerns come in Spencer Leniu (head knock) and Taylan May (hamstring).
On the field, they are also playing far better football, romping to wins in their two finals matches.
But if there is one team that can enter a big match against Penrith with real belief, it's Parramatta.
The Eels remain the only team to have beaten anything close to a full-strength Panthers this year, in round nine, before backing that victory up in round 20.
"They don't have a mental edge over us, no," coach Ivan Cleary insisted.
"The two games we lost, there's some context around that..
"But we've had a lot of games with them where it could have gone either way."
