Penrith will enter their grand final rematch with South Sydney as among the most dismantled defending premiers in almost 20 years.
Nathan Cleary is on track to return from a shoulder injury for Friday night's headline clash, with James Fisher-Harris and Liam Martin still in doubt.
Brian To'o remains absent with a knee injury, while Moses Leota is also out with a long-term shoulder injury.
Four other grand final players left the club over the off-season.
It means the Panthers could run out with just nine members of their team who won the grand final last year.
That figure is the equal-least of any team for a grand final rematch since the Sydney Roosters in 2003, who had just eight players backing up against the Warriors.
Unlike this year, that match-up did not come until late in the season in round 25 when the Roosters were a new-look side en route to their second straight grand final.
The turnaround is a far cry from when Penrith last won a title and had 16 players backing up for the rematch against the Roosters in 2004, or the full 17 that North Queensland were able to put on the field for the rematch against Brisbane in 2016.
But Penrith's rookies insist they know what is coming.
The vast majority of Penrith's team were at Suncorp Stadium for last year's grand final, watching on as Stephen Crichton nabbed Cody Walker's ill-fated long ball and claimed the premiership.
Most were either at Bluebet Stadium for last year's grand final rematch with Melbourne, or trained with the top team in the lead-up as they sought retribution for the 2020 grand final loss.
"I was there," centre Izack Tago told AAP.
"I remember how well the boys were preparing to get back in that game against Melbourne. I know it's something Souths will bring.
"I just remember the intensity, the energy and atmosphere of last year's grand final too. It was pretty unreal. It was such a close game.
"I think everyone knows, everyone expects what's coming. They have been in the position themselves."
Despite their challenges, Penrith remain the only undefeated team in 2022.
The rise of Tago remains a large reason for that with three tries in as many games, while his outside man Taylan May scored a hat-trick in his debut against Newcastle.
RETURNING PREMIERS FOR GRAND FINAL REMATCH:
2022:Penrith - 9*
2021: Storm - 10
2020: Roosters - 11
2019: Roosters - 10
2018: Melbourne - 11
2017: Cronulla - 14
2016: North Queensland - 17
2015: South Sydney - 9
2014: Sydney Roosters - 14
2013: Melbourne - 9
* Based on Nathan Cleary returning, James Fisher-Harris and Liam Martin both being out.
