It is doubtful Penrith coach Matt Elliott would have made his side sit through the last two matches played at Toyota Stadium this week, but there is little doubt those 160 minutes hold the key to Sunday's clash against Cronulla.

Bordering on woeful for much of the 2010 NRL season, the Sharks have proven in their last two home games that they won't be pushed around their own patch.

In that last 160 minutes they have conceded just one try - six measly points that came from a last minute try to Newcastle centre Junior Sa'u in a 26-6 win over the Knights three weeks ago.

Before that was an 11-0 shutout of the much-vaunted Parramatta side.

It is a record in stark contrast to Cronulla's six other matches this season - when they have conceded more than 32 points per game with an average losing margin exceeding 22 points - but it is a record which Elliott says must be respected.

"I think all we need to do is acknowledge their last two home games - they've conceded one try," Elliott said when asked if he was worried his fourth-placed Panthers could be affected by complacency against the struggling Sharks.

"Their attitude to performing at home is a very tough one and if we don't match them in that area, we're absolutely no chance.

"Our mentality going into this weekend is going to have to be one of, while not desperation, it's going to have to be one of being ready for one of the toughest contests that we've had this year." The Panthers could finish the weekend as high as second on the ladder with a win over the Sharks, and it would cap a magnificent week for the club following the re-signing of skipper Petero Civoniceva on Wednesday.

Backrower Frank Pritchard is in doubt for the clash with the groin injury that caused him to be a late withdrawal from the loss to Gold Coast a fortnight ago, with Gavin Cooper on standby.

Even without Pritchard, Penrith should have too much form and firepower to overcome the Sharks, but favouritism is not something that has always sat well with the Panthers, who have had a tendency to beat sides they were not expected to topple before coming up short against lower-ranked sides.

"I'm not too worried about reputations, I'm not too worried about what other people think," Elliott said.

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