The Warriors' 28-12 victory over Penrith on Friday night has suddenly left the Panthers vulnerable in top spot with four rounds remaining before the finals.
Cronulla can join the third-placed Warriors on 34 competition points, just two behind Penrith and the Sydney Roosters, with a sixth successive win on Sunday at Kogarah.
With a mammoth for-and-against differential, the Panthers remain favoured to claim the minor premiership but still face the Roosters next week and the Storm in Melbourne.
With a mammoth for-and-against differential, the Panthers remain favoured to claim the minor premiership but still face the Roosters next week and the Storm in Melbourne.
Two more defeats from the faltering Panthers, who have lost four of their last seven games, and the Sharks will be ready to pounce.
While acutely aware of the opportunity, Craig Fitzgibbon's in-form charges are just focused on St George Illawarra.
Despite being likely wooden-spoonists, the last-placed Dragons stunned the Sharks early to enjoy a 12-6 halftime lead before fading in their round-14 derby at Shark Park, an uncomfortable position which the Cronulla players haven't forgotten.
"They're playing some good footy. I don't think they're getting the results, but they're playing a tough brand," Sharks back-rower Billy Burns told AAP.
"They've got a good young pack and they're still learning the game but they're tough, no matter where we are on the ladder it's going to be a tough game in the derby.
"So I'm, I'm expecting that again this weekend."
Fullback Will Kennedy has played enough Shire derbies to also know exactly what to expect from the Dragons.
"The Sharks love playing Dragons and it's always been a big history between clubs," he said.
"We've just got to put our best foot forward and keep playing the footy that we are. We're treating every game the same each week and just keep doing that.
"You can't just assume it's going to happen just because you're playing well. We've got to be switched on. Whoever you play in the NRL is going to be a hard game.
"Each game you don't know what they're going to come with and we need to just focus on what we do best and, if we do that, then hopefully we can take care of it."
The Dragons must win to have any mathematical hope of avoiding the wooden spoon.
RUN TO THE FINALS FOR THE NRL'S TOP-FOUR TEAMS:
1 - PENRITH (36 points, +292): v Roosters (home), Storm (away), Bulldogs (h), Tigers (h)
2 - SYDNEY ROOSTERS (36, +157): v Panthers (a), Tigers (h), Dolphins (h), Souths (a),
3 - WARRIORS (34, +242): v Broncos (a), Souths (a), Knights (h), Eagles (h)
4 - CRONULLA (32, +177): v Dragons (a), Raiders (h), Titans (a), Eels (a), Storm (h)
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