Penrith coach Matthew Elliott fears Petero Civoniceva will play no part in the club's NRL finals campaign after the Panthers skipper was sent off against Canterbury on Monday night.

Civoniceva was given his marching orders 10 minutes from time in his side's thrilling 24-18 win over the Bulldogs, after catching backrower Gary Warburton around the head with a swinging arm.

The Queensland prop became the first player to be dismissed this season and could now face a potentially season-ending four-game ban.

Elliott said he was hoping Civoniceva's good record, which has seen him not charged since 2006 and only suspended for five weeks in a 266-game career that began in 1998, would go in his favour.

However, with Manly's Glenn Stewart facing a five-week ban for a high shot on Sydney Roosters' Braith Anasta on Sunday, the 33-year-old could well face a similar sanction.

"I am not going to articulate my thoughts at the moment and we will go through the processes we have to," Elliott said.

"I guess I am concerned but I am shooting off the hip here, I haven't had a close look at the circumstances around it and we will deal with it.

"Petero's record is pretty good and I think his credibility in the game runs before him as well ... I don't think he has had an issue for some time.

"I know how the speculation will work, people will tie it to some other incidents from the weekend, but I am not worried about that, I am worried about Pet and his frame of mind.

"He is obviously disappointed and getting him available at the right time is our focus now."

In another blow to the Panthers, who set up a first home final since 2004 with the come-from-behind win that saw them claw back a 16-0 deficit, halfback Luke Walsh limped off with an ankle injury.

Walsh, who has been the Panthers' key playmaker this season, departed five minutes into the second half and Elliott said he was unsure how serious the problem was.

"The medical staff will look at him and those medical machines that go 'bing' and stand around with masks and green coats and we will know more tomorrow," he said.

"Hopefully it is not too serious, but we will know then."

A Michael Jennings' try six seconds from time sealed the win, after Travis Burns blocked a field goal from Brett Kimmorley, to deny the retiring former NSW halfback a fairy tale final home game.

Kimmorley was at his tenacious best as he and long-serving fullback Luke Patten farewelled the club, with Patten to finish his career in England with Super League club Salford.

"I thought the script was there for Noddy to score the field goal, but maybe we didn't get it to him quick enough, it's probably the story of our season," said coach Kevin Moore.

Kimmorley added: "When I turned around at saw it go the other way it was obviously very disappointing ... it could have been a fairy tale, but I have learnt from a long football career you don't always get the send off you deserve.

"It would have been nice to have a picture of the ball sailing over, but it wasn't to be."

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