Ivan Cleary is downplaying concerns about the distraction of Penrith's pending roster juggle which is headlined by the contract uncertainty that surrounds Nathan Cleary.
As November 1 nears, Penrith have 11 players - including prized halfback Cleary - coming into the final year of their deals.
The services of Cleary Jnr would be highly appealing to most rival NRL clubs given his performances for the Penrith as well as NSW and Australia.
Penrith have already lost Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen to expansion side Perth Bears for 2027, while the entry of the PNG Chiefs will truly test the Panthers' ability to hold on to their star names.
Bears coach Mal Meninga has declared he will look to make a play for halfback Cleary if he enters the final 12 months of his contract without a deal unsigned, while Penrith captain Isaah Yeo has already indicated he will test the open market in November.
"It is in the background and our GM Shane Elford has done a lot of work in the background all year, because ideally we don't want them to go to market," said Penrith coach Cleary, who will retire from from club coaching at the end of 2027.
"We respect them if they do but, I don't think it's a distraction any more than any other time.
"Having said that, I don't know either, because everyone's got their own story and situation, and I don't know what they're thinking about.
"I've said this before and I'm confident it'll work out the way it's meant to work out for all of them.
"I feel pretty confident that we'll get our share of wins there and if we don't then it won't be through lack of trying."
The Penrith coach said he couldn't "remember the last time" he spoke to his son about his contractual future.
Penrith sewed up a big piece of the jigsaw with the retention of hooker Mitch Kenny last week but Yeo, Cleary, Liam Martin, Isaiah Papali'i and Blaize Talagi are all unsigned beyond the end of next season.
Kenny is still sidelined with a broken leg as Penrith prepare to meet local rivals Parramatta on Thursday.
Cleary's men remain top of the NRL ladder but after losing three of the last four following last week's narrow defeat to Brisbane and are now just two points ahead of the second-placed Warriors.
"I'll never be pleased after a loss but there were a lot of things we did right last week," Cleary said.
"(There are) no big concerns at all, they (the losses) are all different and I think the Origin period definitely has a part in that. All three (losses) tell a completely different (story) and we had a really good one (win) in there against South too.
"Ultimately we've come out of Origin looking forward to the rest of the year, getting some training under the belt and to build some cohesion."
