There wasn't a lot of it on show at Penrith last season but back-rower Isaah Yeo thinks it's making all the difference in 2020.

While the season has been disrupted in a big way by the COVID-19 pandemic the Panthers have been playing some of the best rugby league in the NRL and sat second on the ladder heading into round eight.

St John's junior Yeo has been immense in the middle of the park and has been a key figure for the Panthers this year but he said the feeling in the squad is playing just as much of a role as the individual performances.

"We had a really good pre-season and it was probably one of the toughest I've had," Yeo said during the week.

"I think that helps bring you closer together and obviously we've had a couple of good performances so after those we've got confidence and I think that shows at the moment.

"We're a young side but we back the way we play and we've got some nice results off the back of that.

"It's been a really fun start to the year."

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A number of off-field scandals derailed the Panthers' season last year but the settled squad has impressed so far this year, particularly in defence.

They went into round eight as one of just five sides which have conceded less than 100 points in 2020.

The Panthers can return to the top two with victory over the Wests Tigers on Saturday.

Yeo will again start at lock while fellow Western Rams exports Matt Burton and Billy Burns were named on the bench.

Kick-off is 7.35pm.