Canberra will have their first 80-minute hit-out since last year's grand final when they face Canterbury in Port Macquarie on Saturday.
The Bulldogs took a strong squad to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea last weekend and emerged with a solid 30-18 win over Cronulla.
The squads will engage in community activities in the lead-up to the match as the north coast region recovers from the devastating bushfires.
Match: Bulldogs v Raiders
Round 3 -
home Team
Bulldogs
6th Position
away Team
Raiders
10th Position
Venue: Port Macquarie Regional Stadium, Port Macquarie
The Rundown
Team News
Bulldogs: Adam Elliott, Aiden Tolman, Brandon Wakeham, Christian Crichton, Corey Hawira-Naera, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Britt, Dylan Napa, Isaiah Tass, Jack Cogger, Jake Averillo, Jayden Okunbor, Joe Stimson, Josh Jackson, Kerrod Holland, Lachlan Lewis, Morgan Harper, Ofahiki Ogden, Reimis Smith, Renouf To'omaga, Sione Katoa, Will Hopoate
Captain Josh Jackson (fractured nose) and fellow back-rower Adam Elliott are back from injuries. Fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been named but will be assessed in regards to playing after suffering back bruising while on Maori All Stars duty last weekend. Indigenous All Stars forward Chris Smith sustained a torn MCL and a partially torn ACL and will be out for at least 12 weeks. Sauaso Sue (knee), Marcelo Montoya (knee), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ankle), Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder) and Nick Meaney (hamstring) are unavailable.
Raiders: Jarrod Croker (c), Nick Cotric, Matt Frawley, Emre Guler, Siliva Havili, Josh Hodgson (c), Corey Horsburgh, Dunamis Lui, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Kai O’Donnell, Michael Oldfield, Josh Papalii, Curtis Scott, Bailey Simonsson, Harley Smith-Shields, Sia Soliola, Daine Spencer, Ryan Sutton, Joe Tapine, Matt Timoko, Semi Valemei, Elliott Whitehead, Jack Wighton, George Williams, Sam Williams, Hudson Young.
A strong squad has been named with 13 members of last year's grand final side taking part. Former Storm centre Curtis Scott is set to make his club debut, while Jack Wighton and George Williams will link in the halves for the first time. English enforcer John Bateman (shoulder) is the only notable absentee.
Match: Bulldogs v Raiders
Round 3 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Bulldogs is number 4 Will HopoateFullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jayden OkunborWinger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey Simonsson
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Reimis SmithCentre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 21 Morgan HarperCentre for Raiders is number 14 Curtis Scott
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 23 Jake AverilloWinger for Raiders is number 5 Nick Cotric
-
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Lachlan LewisFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
-
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 14 Jack CoggerHalfback for Raiders is number 7 George Williams
Forwards
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Aiden TolmanProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
-
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Sione KatoaHooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan NapaProp for Raiders is number 10 Iosia Soliola
-
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Corey Horsburgh
-
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Harawira-Naera2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
-
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Raiders is number 13 Joseph Tapine
Interchange
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 7 Brandon WakehamInterchange for Raiders is number 4 Michael Oldfield
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Ofahiki OgdenInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Dean BrittInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Dunamis Lui
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Isaiah TassInterchange for Raiders is number 162 Kai O'Donnell
Reserves
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Renouf AtoniReserve for Raiders is number 17 Ryan Sutton
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 20 Joe StimsonReserve for Raiders is number 18 Sam Williams
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Kerrod HollandReserve for Raiders is number 19 Matt Frawley
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 24 Tuipulotu KatoaReserve for Raiders is number 20 Matthew Timoko
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 25 Aaron SchouppReserve for Raiders is number 21 Siliva Havili
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Daine Spencer
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Referee: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
Last updated:
The big question
Bulldogs: Who steps up in the pack? With Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Chris Smith to miss round one with injuries, there's a chance for fringe players to establish themselves in the 17. Off-season recruits Dean Britt and Joe Stimson look to be jostling to partner Josh Jackson in the second-row.
Raiders: Will the halves combination click from the get-go? New No.7 George Williams only arrived in Australia in January and is yet to play alongside Clive Churchill Medal winner Jack Wighton. Both men are both running playmakers and it will be interesting to see their chemistry.
