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Dylan Edwards has downplayed concerns about his knee ahead of the NRL finals, insistent it is not limiting his output as Penrith pursue a fourth straight title.

Dylan Edwards insists his knee injury is not an issue ahead of finals, confident it is getting better every week and is nothing on previous end-of-season problems.

Edwards' right knee has remained a point of interest since he missed nearly a month of football after being hurt in the State of Origin decider.

The Penrith fullback is in no doubt to face the Sydney Roosters in Friday night's NRL qualifying final, but has worn strapping on his knee ever since.

The likes of Andrew Johns have also questioned how much the injury has limited Edwards, who remains one of the most crucial cogs in Penrith's system.

But the 28-year-old is adamant the problem is beginning to go away, and the pain is not on the same level as the foot injury he fought through to win the 2021 title.

"I'm going good, getting better. Everyone is talking about the knee and all that, but I am getting better every week," Edwards said.

"It's heaps better (than how I felt in 2021).

"It took a couple of weeks, but it's getting more comfortable.

"No one would be playing without anything ailing them at the moment. It is what it is, you just have to put it to the side and put the team first.''

Edwards is one of several wounded Panthers entering Friday night's qualifying final against the Sydney Roosters.

Nathan Cleary will return from shoulder instability, with the Panthers confident he will not require pain-killing injections to play.

They are, however, expecting him to face plenty of traffic from Angus Crichton, who is renowned for targeting opposition halves in defence.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson indicated on Thursday that Crichton would target Cleary, without entirely going away from their right attacking edge.

"You know when someone has an injury and you know you have to ask the question," Robinson said. 

"But you don't change your game plan towards it. 

"We have had instances in the past where people have changed direction based on an opponent's injury. That's not the focus you need. 

"You need to be aware of it, but we will play our style. And part of that will be Gus running the way Gus runs. So we will ask the question, but we won't deviate there."