Cronulla Sharks lose stars Todd Carney and Paul Gallen for round 21 match with Panthers

CRONULLA will try to halt a finals free-fall without their two star players - Paul Gallen and Todd Carney - tonight.

CRONULLA will try to halt a finals free-fall without their two star players - Paul Gallen and Todd Carney - tonight.

Carney (abdominal) has been scratched from the team to face Penrith at Toyota Stadium, while captain Gallen is still struggling with after-effects from Origin.

Prop Bryce Gibbs is also understood to be struggling with injury.

Winless in their past three outings, the Sharks are already without Ben Pomeroy and Wade Graham and suddenly must win to remain safely in the top eight.

Coach Shane Flanagan accepted responsibility for last week's low point - a 36-4 flogging against Canberra at home - because he played several stars injured.

"Todd and Wade shouldn't have played - they were restricted," Flanagan said.

When asked about Gallen's chances of taking the field, Flanagan replied: "I'm as much of a chance of playing."

Chad Townsend will deputise for Carney in the halves.

"We need to turn up if we're dead-set serious about playing finals footy," Flanagan said. 

Penrith have their own personnel worries.

Luke Lewis remains unavailable after having surgery to remove a lump from his neck, while Travis Burns is suspended.

On the plus side, Jeremy Smith is certain to return to captain the Sharks in Gallen's absence.

Panthers ace Mick Gordon could come back unexpectedly from a broken leg against his future club.