Due to coronavirus restrictions, Bathurst's premier rugby league venue will be capped at 5800 for the blockbuster match, which is under the record low for an NRL match at Carrington Park of 6240 that watched Panthers thump Gold Coast Titans 40-0 in 2015.

Bathurst mayor Bobby Bourke said attending fans will be required to sign in with a QR code.

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"Attendance at the NRL is in accordance with NSW Health guidelines based on 1 person per two square metre rule with a capacity at Carrington Park of 5800," he said.

"A COVID safe plan is in place for the event and patrons will be required to sign in with a QR code when they arrive at Carrington Park."

The record attendance for a rugby league match at Carrington Park stands at 10,973, achieved at the last NRL match in Bathurst back in 2019, where Melbourne Storm defeated Panthers 32-2 in freezing conditions.

A final allocation of tickets for the match was released on Friday afternoon, with all snapped up in next to no time.

Penrith Panthers is the inform team in the NRL at the moment, having won all seven of its matches this season so far, but the club comes up against a Manly team that have proven to be the biggest improvers in recent weeks thanks mainly to the return of star fullback Tom Trbojevic.

A month ago fans may have though this Saturday's match would be a walkover for Panthers - Penrith did defeat Manly 46-6 back on April 1 - but a run of three consecutive wins for the Sea Eagles has the match looming as a potential blockbuster.

The NRL match will be the main act of three games, with the NSW Cup clash between Penrith and Blacktown Workers and the Group 10 match between Bathurst Panthers and Orange CYMS to be played beforehand.

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