The Panthers have opted against resting players for Sunday's final regular-season game, with Nathan Cleary among the stars to face Wests Tigers in a near-full strength team.
Penrith can lock up the minor premiership with a two-point win, and remain a chance to welcome Isaah Yeo back from a pectoral injury suffered in round 23.
Cole lines up at five-eighth and says it is "very surreal" to finally be on the cusp of a first finals appearance for the club that scouted him as a teenager.
The 23-year-old has mostly been consigned to cameo appearances from the bench or games as a back-up starter since his debut with the Panthers in late 2022.
But Jack Cogger's suspension cleared a starting spot for Cole in last week's win over Canterbury, Sunday's game against the Tigers, and likely the first week of finals.
"You just want to be a part of the big games," Cole told AAP.
"That's the reason you play footy and go through all the hard stuff in pre-season, to put yourself in good stead to get an opportunity if it comes up."
Of his 20 NRL games, Cole has started six next to Cleary in the halves, partnering former Panthers playmakers Jarome Luai, Trent Toelau and Brad Schneider in others.
Cleary and Cole have started as the Panthers' halves only twice this season, but the decision not to rest players before finals gives the pair a valuable hit-out
Cole is already attuned to changes in the superstar No.7's game this year.
"He's still got the structure there, but you've probably noticed he's taking the line on a bit more, playing out the back of shape," Cole said.
"It's sort of more a reactive style this year I guess you could call it, more than structural, but not too much different."
Pending Sunday's result, the Panthers will finish either first or second on the ladder and host the Dolphins or Sydney Roosters in week one of the finals.
They are guaranteed to play at least two finals matches and 2023 premiership winner Cogger is free to return for the second and beyond.
But with his time at the Panthers drawing to a close, Perth-bound Cole hopes he can do enough to hold the No.6 jersey that has for so long eluded him.
"It's cool to finish how I wanted to start, that's what I always wanted to do, was play in the halves at Penrith," he said.
"It's pretty cool to have the opportunity to go play the last couple of rounds and then maybe even a first-ever finals match too.Â
"It'd be cool to get a crack at one and play well and maybe even hopefully stay there ... that's the goal, to try to stay there.
"I've just got to do my best, it's not like I can really control it really. I'm looking forward to it."
