Canterbury face an outside-back crisis for next Sunday’s elimination NRL final with Will Hopoate and Sam Perrett set to be unavailable for selection.

Hopoate has so far declined to play on Sundays this season due to his religious beliefs, while Perrett is not due back from a neck injury until week two of the finals should Canterbury progress.

Rookie winger Reimis Smith is out with a broken leg, while likely replacement option Tyrone Phillips only recently returned from injury in the NSW Cup.

Despite both teams being based in western Sydney, the match will bizarrely be played in the eastern suburbs at Allianz Stadium due to scheduling clashes with the AFL.

Penrith clinched sixth spot and a home final from the Bulldogs following their thrashing of Manly on Sunday night, however Panthers coach Anthony Griffin wasn’t too fussed by the venue.

Asked if he had any input in the location of the match, he said: “We’d be playing here if I did. I got told this morning [Sunday] that the NRL won’t allow a playoff here and that Allianz was our only option.

“It’s a semi-final. To be honest, I don’t really care where we play.

“Obviously first choice would’ve been to play here but the rules or the policy don’t allow us to do that. We’ve just got to be play where we told.”

Click here for a guide to the first week of the NRL finals

Canterbury will at least welcome back Sam Kasiano from the suspension he received for kicking Broncos skipper Corey Parker in the mouth.

The Bulldogs enter the match on a three-game losing streak, however Griffin, whose side have now won five on the trot and six of their past seven, said the Bulldogs remain a tough proposition.

“(They are) experienced, big, used to playing semi-finals, used to winning. They’ll be very hard to beat,” he said.

A mouth-watering local derby between Brisbane and Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium is the first elimination final and will be played on Friday night.

The Raiders powered into second spot on the ladder after a thumping win. Photo: AAP

Canberra will host Cronulla in the first qualifying final on Saturday evening, though the Raiders are likely to again be without Blake Austin.

The Raiders sealed a top-two spot after a crushing 52-10 defeat of Wests Tigers on Sunday, prompting coach Ricky Stuart to declare a new era of NRL success in the nation’s capital.

Canberra’s regular season points tally, which rested at 688 by game’s end, eclipses the club record of 677 set by the premiership-winning 1994 side, considered one of the best teams of all time.

“I am really happy for the players, they deserve to be there,” Stuart said.

Cameron Smith will lead the Storm into yet another finals series. Photo: AAP

“They have been very consistent this year. It was a professional performance today but another competition starts now.”

Minor premiers Melbourne meet defending premiers North Queensland at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

NRL Finals, week one

1st Elimination Final

Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans, Friday September 9, Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm (AEST)

1st Qualifying Final

Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks, Saturday September 10, GIO Stadium, 5.35pm

2nd Qualifying Final

Melbourne Storm v North Queensland Cowboys, Saturday September 10, AAMI Park, 7.55pm

2nd Elimination Final

Penrith Panthers v Canterbury Bulldogs, Sunday September 11, ANZ Stadium, 4.10pm

-AAP