Stephen Crichton is pushing for a miracle comeback from an ankle injury that could force a major Bulldogs reshuffle, while the Sharks and Panthers are sweating on stars.

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Read on for the Late Mail for the NRL semi-finals.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19

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Canberra Raiders vs. Cronulla Sharks at GIO Stadium, 7.50pm AEST

Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Matt Nicholson 19. Danny Levi 20. Trey Mooney 21. Ethan Sanders 22. Chevy Stewart

Players cut:

Late Mail: The Raiders are expected to be 1-17 with Josh Papalii making a successful return from an ankle injury albeit not at 100 per cent.

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3 Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Briton Nikora 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Thomas Hazelton 22. Hohepha Puru

Players cut:

Late Mail: Prop Thomas Hazelton is on track to return from a knee infection that saw him scratched from the win over the Roosters. If he is fit, Briton NIkora will likely start in the second row, with Billy Burns the unlucky man to drop out.

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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium, 4:05pm AEST

Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Matt Burton 5. Jethro Rinakama 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Josh Curran 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Reed Mahoney 19. Blake Wilson 20. Jake Turpin 21. Samuel Hughes 22. Marcelo Montoya 23. Stephen Crichton

Players cut:

Late Mail: Skipper Stephen Crichton is a long shot to return from an ankle injury but is doing everything in his power to return for the crunch semi-final. Crichton would likely need a needle to play and could risk further injury, but with their season on the line he will do everything he can to get on the field. If he plays, Matt Burton would likely shift to five-eighth, with Lachlan Galvin moving to halfback. That would mean Toby Sexton drops back to the bench and Reed Mahoney drops out. Another option if Crichton is fit is shift Bronson Xerri to the wing for Jethro Rinakama, who suffered an ankle injury against the Storm and keep the rest of the backline as is.

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Isaiah Papali’i 17. Luke Garner 18. Thomas Jenkins 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Daine Laurie 21. Mavrik Geyer 22. Mitch Kenny

Players cut:

Late Mail: Hooker Mitch Kenny is racing the clock to return from a hamstring injury after being named in the reserves. If he is fit, he will likely start with Luke Sommerton dropping out. But if Kenny fails in his comeback bid, Brad Schneider would likely start at hooker with Sommerton shifting to the bench as happened in the win over the Warriors.

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