With the rest of the NRL teams having finished their matches for the weekend, the Storm has provisionally dropped to seventh place just two points (or one win) ahead of ninth-placed Brisbane Broncos with two rounds left in the season.

The Storm has everything to play for, and the Panthers are in the same boat as a win would move them to equal top spot with Manly Sea Eagles. It would also maintain Penrith's fortress-like win-loss record at Sportingbet Stadium this season of 9-1 with the only home loss against Brisbane in round six.

The Storm has made one change with forward Dayne Weston coming onto the bench in place of Junior Moors.

Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said Moors needed more game time after some recent injuries and was able to play 70 out of 80 minutes in the NSW Cup on Saturday.

Ponissi said the Storm faced a torrid 80 minutes in Penrith.

"If this match was important before the weekend's matches then it has greater importance now with the results we have seen," Ponissi said.

"We were fifth, now we are in seventh place, we want to remain in control of our own destiny and we have to do that by winning."

New Zealand Warriors' thrashing by Sydney Roosters on Sunday reduced the pressure behind the Storm as a Warriors win would have put them equal with the Storm on points.

But the Roosters' win has handed the Panthers even more impetus to beat the Storm because the Roosters have moved ahead of them on the ladder.

Ponissi said reports in the Sydney media that listed the Storm as the warm favourite were hard to believe and he thought the NRL as a whole was underestimating the Panthers' season.

"People seem to have been expecting the Panthers' demise this season but it hasn't come and it won't come," Ponissi said.

"You don't play as well as the Panthers have for 23 rounds if you are lucky, they've had that success because they are a very balanced football team."

Storm's proven finals performers such as Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk are readying themselves for a stellar performance against the Panthers' creative backs in Jamie Soward and Matt Moylan.

But Ponissi said only a faultless 80 minutes from the Storm would keep the team in the match.

"Keeping turnovers to a minimum will be critical because it's what they base their game on," Ponissi said.

"They have a very high completion rate so we have to defend well and then control the ball because if we let them dictate the game to us it will be a long night."

With the finals just three matches away for the Storm, Ponissi said it was up to all 17 Storm players to lift on Monday night.

"This time of year our big players, our rep players, step up to another level but we can't just rely on them," Ponissi said.

"Penrith win matches because all 17 of their players perform – it's been a hallmark of their matches all year.

"We've got to match that across the whole game – it will be a massive game for both clubs."

The Storm plays the Panthers at Sportingbet Park on Monday night at 7pm with Fox Sports showing the match live.