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Both these teams arrive in Wagga Wagga with their confidence  down after big losses at home - the Knights lost by 34 points to the Roosters last week, while the Raiders went down by 14 to the Rabbitohs.

They now each have just three wins from eight rounds so far and are searching for answers as well as a return to form.

For Ricky Stuart's side leaving Canberra for a change of scenery might help. They have lost their last three home games at GIO Stadium, and are now staring at a fifth defeat in a row.

The Knights offered little in their seven tries-to-one humiliation at the hands of the Roosters with coach Adam O'Brien saying afterwards that everyone needed to have good, hard chat on what they wanted the rest of the seasons to look like.

The rundown

Team news

Raiders: Prop Josh Papalii makes a welcome return from a week off to "refresh mentally".

Halfback George Williams is also back after he was a late scratching in warm-up last week due to a hamstring strain but Josh Hodgson (calf) and Jarrod Croker (shoulder) have had their returns delayed by at least a week.

Sebastian Kris (ankle) has been named in the centres despite fears he had suffered a syndesmosis injury against the Rabbitohs and will have to be cleared to take his place.

Matthew Timoko is the 18th man with Sam Williams dropping out of the squad on game day. Ryan James and Dunamis Lui were dropped from the 21-man squad 24 hours out from kick-off.

The Raiders have been outscored 69-8 in their past four second halves.

Knights: Lachlan Fitzgibbon returns from a shoulder injury and starts in the second row with Mitch Barnett shifting to lock and Connor Watson to the bench. Pasami Saulo drops out of the side with Gehamat Shibasaki the 18th man.

Last week's 18th man Phoenix Crossland has been selected to replace playmaker Blake Green, who suffered a rib injury against the Roosters.

Knights winger Hymel Hunt has been ruled out of Saturday's trip to Wagga Wagga to face Canberra. Hunt had been looking to return from a hamstring injury. Staford To'a has been elevated to the wing.

Tex Hoy and Josh King were omitted from the squad on Friday.

The Knights have lost six of their past seven away games.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Caleb Aekins
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey Simonsson
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Brayden Musgrove
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian Kris
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Curtis Scott
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
    Winger for Knights is number 19 Starford To'a
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kurt Mann
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 7 George Williams
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Phoenix Crossland

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
    Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Emre Guler
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Corey Harawira-Naera
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
    2nd Row for Knights is number 18 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
  • Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton
    Lock for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Siliva Havili
    Interchange for Knights is number 13 Connor Watson
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Hudson Young
    Interchange for Knights is number 14 Sauaso Sue
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Joseph Tapine
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Brodie Jones

Reserves

  • Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Matthew Timoko
    Reserve for Knights is number 22 Gehamat Shibasaki

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara

Last updated:

Key match-up

Jack Wighton v Kurt Mann: The rival five-eighths have shouldered a bit more responsibility lately, either through injuries to their respective halfbacks or the slip in their side's attack.

The pressure is on both these No.6s to not over-play their hand chasing points but to come up with the creativity needed to bamboozle opposition defences.

Stat attack

Jordan Rapana (eight) and Will Kennedy (six) are the leading try scorers for their sides teammates may look to these two for a much-needed win.

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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