The business end of the season has officially arrived in the NRL, with the first week of finals footy taking centre stage.
Melbourne welcomes Canterbury to AAMI Park on Friday night as the Storm look to book yet another preliminary final when they take on the Bulldogs.
Penrith's premiership reign will go on the line on Saturday when they travel across to New Zealand to take on the Warriors in an elimination final.
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Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters will also lock horns in a do-or-die clash later in the day.
Finally, Canberra will host Brisbane in what promises to be an enthralling qualifying final in the nation's capital.
The Sporting News delivers its predictions and best bets for select matches during Finals Week 1 in the NRL below — all odds per bookmaker Sportsbet.
Warriors vs. Panthers prediction, tip, best bet
Penrith's premiership defence seemed to be doomed midway through the campaign as they languished at the bottom of the ladder, leaving Ivan Cleary searching for answers after four title wins in a row.
A nine-game winning streak saw the Panthers surge up the ladder and secure finals football, although they will have to do it the hard way this year if they are to maintain their stranglehold over the competition.
First on the agenda is a trip across the ditch to take on Andrew Webster's side, who relinquished their grip on a top-four place late in the season as injuries started to bite.
The Warriors are overwhelming underdogs for the clash at home as they are priced as the largest outsiders across the first week of finals.
The two clubs have only met once earlier this season and the Panthers emerged with the win in Auckland during the early stages of their nine-game winning run.
The 28-18 result saw Scott Sorensen enjoy a day out as the backrower crossed for a double, while the visitors also came up with the goods on both wings as Tom Jenkins and Paul Alamoti got in on the act.
Casey McLean is on a hot-streak in the second half of the season, registering nine tries in his last seven matches.
The teenage centre has been in destructive mood, bagging three doubles during this sequence as well as providing three assists.
The Kiwi international could potentially link up with Brian To'o for a potent left edge attack after Jenkins was overlooked by Cleary for what could be the club's 13th finals victory in a row.
Prediction: Panthers by 12
Best bet: Casey McLean anytime tryscorer ($2.25)
Sharks vs. Roosters prediction, tip, best bet
The Roosters have emerged as a genuine dark horse in the premiership race, but must first overcome a major obstacle in their elimination final against the Sharks.
The two sides have already met twice this season, with honours split evenly.
The Chooks romped to a 42-16 win over Craig Fitzgibbon's side in Round 12, before Nicho Hynes and Co. responded in kind with a 31-18 reversal in Round 20.
There have been two consistent themes throughout the two matches, in regards to the Roosters: Daniel Tupou has caused nightmares for the defence and James Tedesco has found the line.
The veteran winger will be right at the forefront of his team's attack once again in the Shire, with Sam Walker certain to go to Tupou aerially due to his favourable match-up against Sione Katoa.
He bagged a double inside the opening 10 minutes during their first meeting, before he touched down early once again in a losing effort back in July.
While Mark Nawaqanitawase has grabbed all the headlines thanks to his late-season surge to pick up the Ken Irvine Medal, Tupou has quietly gone about his business as usual.
In his last 12 appearances, he has scored at least one try in all but three of them, so looms as an undeniable threat as the Sharks try to avoid an eighth-straight defeat during the first week of finals.
Prediction: Roosters by 6
Best bet: Roosters win / Daniel Tupou anytime tryscorer ($2.60)
Raiders vs. Broncos prediction, tip, best bet
Arguably, the best may have been saved to last as Canberra and Brisbane go toe-to-toe in the nation's capital on Sunday afternoon.
The Raiders picked up the minor premiership a fortnight ago and will be well rested for this one.
Meanwhile, Michael Maguire's outfit have experienced a much more turbulent campaign as they recovered from a mid-season slump to eventually scoop fourth on the ladder during the last round of the regular season.
Reece Walsh has been at the heart of their late charge, with the fullback stitching together quite the run in the past month.
The No.1 has scored five tries, provided six assists, busted through 40 tackles and regularly topped his side's run metre chart as he has stepped up in the absence of Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds.
If the Broncos are to upset the Raiders, Walsh will have to have a big hand in it.
For the home side, much of the same sentiments can be attributed to Ethan Strange.
The five-eighth has been in great touch all season, but he has particuarly impressed during the past month or so as his name has emerged in the conversation for a spot in the Australian side.
The No.6 has scored in his last three matches, bagging a hat-trick against Manly in Round 23, while also crossing for four-pointers against Penrith and the Wests Tigers before he was able to put his feet up last week.
Canberra have made GIO Stadium a fortress during their rise this year and have won their last seven games on home soil, with Strange being a big contributor to this run.
Prediction: Raiders by 4
Best bet: Ethan Strange / Reece Walsh anytime tryscorers ($5.50)