The Panthers will be without halves Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace, centre Jamal Idris and winger Josh Mansour, however Kiwi internationals Dean Whare and Elijah Taylor are expected to be welcomed back this weekend.

Whare has been named to return from a hamstring injury he suffered against the Cowboys in round five, but Taylor wasn't included in Ivan Cleary's extended squad on Tuesday afternoon.

However the Panthers lock is confident he will return this weekend after picking up a knee injury in the round-six victory against the Manly Sea Eagles.

"I'm a definite at the moment but it depends how my knee feels after [training] and if it swells up again," Taylor said. "It's still Tuesday. Long time until the game. I'm confident."

The Panthers have been decimated by injury to start the season, but perhaps the biggest impact on their stuttering start to the year is the absence of their halves, with Soward not expected back until at least after next weekend's representative round.

"It's a no-brainer, losing your two main halves who steer the team around is definitely going to hurt but we have faith in Api [Koroisau] and Isaac [John]," the injured Mansour said.

"Isaac has been with us a few years and shown what he can do and Api has played in a grand final as well. They're both talented players and have been doing a good job for us. But losing Sowie and Wal has definitely hurt us given they are a big part of the team and the chemistry and stuff."

In other team news, Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen will return for the Sharks after missing Monday night's win against South Sydney.

Justin Hodges' hamstring injury sees Lachlan Maranta move to fullback for the Broncos, while Sam Thaiday returns to the back row with Alex Glenn now on the sideline with a facial injury.

Manly have lost skipper Jamie Lyon, however they will be boosted by the return of five-eighth Kieran Foran, who missed the loss to Canterbury with a hamstring strain.

Billy Slater will make his return for Melbourne, which is likely to force Greg Inglis back to the centres for next week's Test match against New Zealand.

The Bulldogs welcome back Josh Morris and Tim Browne from injury, while Sam Kasiano returns after serving a two-game suspension.

Tigers prop Keith Galloway will miss the game against the Bulldogs with a shoulder injury.