State of Origin rivals Nathan Cleary and Sam Walker could face off in the biggest game of the year next week after the star halfbacks were named to play in their respective preliminary finals after overcoming injury concerns.

There were fears Cleary would miss Sunday’s showdown with Newcastle after the club revealed last week that the Panthers halfback had sustained a “stress-related bone issue in his foot” during the qualifying final win over the Roosters.

Cleary appeared to be hampered and then told Penrith’s medical staff that there was a problem with his foot after he kicked the field goal that put them in front.

He was able to rest up given Penrith earned the week off, but there are huge questions over whether he will be anywhere near his best this weekend.

He was in a moon boot last week and has trained away from his teammates, but he has been named and will start in the grand final qualifier.

“He’s going all right,” co-captain Isaah Yeo said.

“He had a pretty quiet week last week, but the week off was certainly nice for him and a few others.

“I’m confident he’ll be named and ready to go. If we had to play last week it would have been pretty sore, and he would have pushed through it, but it’s settled down a little bit so hopefully all systems go.”

Cole will partner Cleary in the halves after impressing at five-eighth while Jack Cogger was out suspended.

Cogger will come off the bench, with Bears-bound Cole not named in Penrith’s squad for the NSW Cup Grand Final this weekend.

“It is a bit strange,” Cole said on Tuesday before the team was announced.

“I feel like I just try to prepare as if I’m playing for NRL, and if I do end up playing Cup, that’ll put me in good stead for that as well.

“At the end of the day, it’s just another game of footy. Obviously there’s a lot more on the line in both games, but you’ve just got to treat it like every other week, and come game time, just feel prepared and ready to go.”

Blaize Talagi has kept his spot in the centres against an unchanged Knights side that is flying high after their upset win in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Walker has been cleared to return from an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined for several weeks.

The Queensland halfback trained on Monday and is a huge in for the Roosters, with Daly Cherry-Evans shifting to five-eighth.

Hugo Savala has dropped back to the bench with Billy Smith keeping his spot at left centre.

It’s smooth sailing for the rested Dolphins who have included veteran Felise Kaufusi on the six-man bench for the club’s first preliminary final.

Adam Gee will be in charge of the game of Brisbane, while Gerard Sutton will referee Sunday’s game in Sydney after Ashley Klein was dropped for missing a penalty in the final minute that would have sent the Warriors match into extra-time.

Klein will be in the bunker for the first preliminary final and received support from Yeo.

“I thought he let the game flow really well,” Yeo said.

“The game on Friday there were a lot more six-agains, weird ones too. Anyway, it’s up to the refs to interpret that.

“For the most part, I thought Ash let the game flow really well, he let both teams sort it out. Obviously there were some decisions there that were 50-50, but over the course of a year, I feel like it evens up.”

Originally published as Nathan Cleary named for the Panthers, Ivan Cleary makes shock call at five-eighth