Isaah Yeo has conceded Ivan Cleary was right to question Penrith's hunger for a fourth straight title, but insists the players have turned a corner in the past fortnight.
The Panthers can wrap up a home final and their fifth straight top-two finish with a win over Gold Coast on Saturday night to ensure one last match at BlueBet Stadium before it is rebuilt.
Penrith remain the best placed of any team to challenge minor-premiers Melbourne for the title, particularly with Nathan Cleary returning from injury.
But it is no secret the three-time defending premiers have not done it as easily this season.
They are still ranked first for defence, but have let in more points per game than they have in any of the previous four years.
Injuries, headlined by Nathan Cleary's shoulder and hamstring issues, have also made life harder.
Penrith are yet to go on the great winning runs they have in recent years, with questions over their form in the past month apparent.
Back-to-back losses to Melbourne and Canberra even prompted coach Ivan Cleary to question the team's desire, and if they were willing to fight for another title.
And while Panthers captain Yeo was adamant the hunger is still there to be the first club to win four straight in almost 60 years, he believes the coach's comments were fair.
"That's just him being honest," Yeo told AAP.
"Us as a group understand that as well. We know what winning looks like, how it feels and how hard it is.
"He had every right to ask that and question us on that because of things he was seeing in the game.
"It's tough to win, it's bloody hard and you need a little bit of luck. We understand that, but we're looking forward to the challenge."
Yeo, though, is adamant things have turned around for Penrith.
While last week's win over South Sydney was far from free-flowing football, the Panthers were far more clinical than they had been in previous weeks.
Cleary is also due back for the first week of the finals, meaning Penrith have the potential to be at full strength for their qualifying final.
"The areas we needed to improve, we did that," Yeo said.
"But we have to go to levels above that as well. I'm still very excited about what is in front of us.
"The ball is in our court now, we need to go out there against Titans, keep improving, and find some momentum going into the finals.
"Our best football is still in front of us, we just need to chase after it."
