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The Raiders have only had one win at home to date so will be looking for the GIO Stadium faithful this Thursday to help lift them free of a form slide.

Canberra won't want a fourth loss in a row to push them even further away from the top eight, but that's going to be a challenge up against the high-flying Rabbitohs.

Wayne Bennett's side is sitting cosily inside the top four with the second-best attacking record in the NRL by a single point - and were the first team to pass 200 points in 2021.

Raiders v Rabbitohs

The rundown

Team news

Raiders: Canberra will start 1-17 with Matt Timoko the 18th man. Sia Soliola was the player dropped from the squad an hour before kick-off. 

Recalled Kiwi international Joseph Tapine returns for a rested Josh Papalii. Sebastian Kris replaces Jarrod Croker (shoulder) in the centres.

Matt Frawley and Dunamis Lui were cut from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

The Raiders have won six of their past eight games against the Rabbitohs.

Rabbitohs: Rugged forward Tevita Tatola will be rested after failing a final HIA protocol test on Wednesday. Jai Arrow comes into the starting side and Patrick Mago joins the bench.

Dean Hawkins was the other player to drop out of the squad on Wednesday and Hame Sele was omitted an hour before kick-off. Steve Marsters will be the 18th man.

Benji Marshall has won 10 of 11 games at GIO Stadium.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Caleb Aekins
    Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Cody Walker
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey Simonsson
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Alex Johnston
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian Kris
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Dane Gagai
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Curtis Scott
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Campbell Graham
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
    Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Benji Marshall
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 17 Hudson Young
    Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Ryan James
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Thomas Burgess
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
    Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Emre Guler
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 17 Jai Arrow
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Corey Harawira-Naera
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
  • Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton
    Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Siliva Havili
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Mark Nicholls
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Joseph Tapine
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Liam Knight
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Jacob Host
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 19 Iosia Soliola
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 20 Patrick Mago

Reserves

  • Reserve for Raiders is number 18 Matthew Timoko
    Reserve for Rabbitohs is number 18 Steven Marsters

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
  • Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara

Last updated:

Key match-up

Jack Wighton v Benji Marshall: The Raiders No.6 will be looking for a massive game to help Canberra break a three-game losing streak and keep his name front and centre in Blues coach Brad Fittler's thinking for Origin One. The evergreen Marshall is proving the bargain buy of 2021 and his performance against the Titans was out of the top drawer. Wighton has been one of several Raiders below their best in recent weeks but if he finds his best then the Bunnies defence will have their hands full.

Stat attack

The Raiders have won seven of their past 10 against the Rabbitohs with the two most recent wins being in Canberra.

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