PANTHERS legend Greg Alexander says tonight’s clash with the Cowboys looms as a glimpse into the future with young hooker Wayde Egan set to make his debut.

Egan was not named in Penrith’s 17 on Tuesday but travelled with the team to Townsville and is a strong chance to make the cut when Anthony Griffin finalises his side.

It’s a prospect that excites Alexander, who has watched the lively 21-year-old work his way up the junior ranks of the Panthers where he is viewed as the club’s long-term No.9.

Round 20

In fact so impressive has Egan’s recent form been that he has jumped another promising rake, Sione Katoa, in the club’s pecking order.

“He’s a very good running dummy half and a very good defender, he’s got a good all-round game actually,” Alexander told Fox Sports.

“They’ve taken him up there, along with Jarome Luai who’s been named in the 17. Now Jerome could come on and play in the halves but I’ve got a feeling that we’ll see Wayde Egan make his debut up there in Townsville tonight, which will be very exciting because the club has an enormous rap on him and Sione Katoa’s the other hooker in Penrith behind Peter Wallace.

“Wayde Egan just might have jumped Sione at the moment.”

An injured Nathan Cleary speaks to Peter Wallace after Penrith’s loss to the Bulldogs. Source: AAP

It’s a huge compliment to a player who grew up west of Penrith in country Lithgow before joining the club to play in its SG Ball side.

Having starred in the junior ranks, Egan’s opportunity to play first grade has come after the knee injury suffered by his former under 20s teammate Nathan Cleary.

Cleary is set to miss anywhere between six and 10 weeks of football after picking up a grade three MCL injury in Penrith’s narrow loss to the Bulldogs.

With first-choice hooker Peter Wallace a former State of Origin halfback, Egan’s development gives Griffin the chance to shift the NSW aspirant into the No.7 jersey should the rookie take his chance.