The stage is set for one of the biggest games of the season.
Two of the most successful sides of the modern era.
Grand Final combatants twice in the past five years.
Coaches and players that will go down as some of the game's best.
Melbourne sit in second on the competition table heading into this Thursday night classic, stalking Canberra for Minor Premiership honours and remaining steady competition favourites.
But even that has only been written in pencil this year, with the Storm yet to prove to anyone that they're sure things for this Premiership.
Penrith are now in the top four, an incredible feat that regardless of what happens in September will go down as one of Ivan Cleary's greatest coaching achievements.
If the Panthers do somehow go on and win a fifth straight Premiership, it will be their masterpiece.
The Storm beat Penrith at AAMI Park earlier this year but it's hard to get a read on things from that game. Nathan Cleary left the field early, and the Panthers battled on well but just didn't have the class to get across the line.
We will get a solid indication of where both Penrith and Melbourne are at come full-time on Thursday night. There will surely be no runaway winner and we could be in for another classic akin to that Panthers v Bulldogs game a couple of months back.
It's a big fortnight for the Panthers. With nine wins under their belt, their biggest tests of the season come up against the Storm on Thursday and then against the competition leaders Canberra the following week. To play the top two teams in back-to-back weeks is daunting, but also perfect timing for Ivan Cleary's side - which has largely played bottom eight teams in the last few weeks.
The Storm have scored more points than any other team in the competition this year. They can blow you away when they really start clicking, though I doubt that will be the case here.
Penrith will get them in the grind, and with an average completion rate of 81 per cent this season (the fourth best in the competition), the Panthers will give the Storm few chances.
But Bellamy's side don't need an array of chances to cause you pain. Penrith will need to be on full alert every time Melbourne has the ball - the great ability the Storm has is to score points from anywhere, whether it be sustained pressure on the line or a play from further back field. And of course, there's the power of the high ball with Xavier Coates scoring plenty of tries from kicks this season.
As much as Melbourne miss Jahrome Hughes, Tyran Wishart is doing an admirable job in the number seven jumper and the Storm don't lose all that much in attack with him there, especially with Cameron Munster shouldering plenty of the creative play.
The Finals have arrived early. This game will give us a glimpse into what September looks like, and I reckon it looks like two of the greatest teams we'll ever see going hammer and tongs until the bitter end. This is going to be one hell of a game - and it wouldn't surprise me if we do a little overtime.
Tip: Panthers by 2.