The 18-year-old is in line to replace injured Raider Phil Graham in the starting line-up, with Adrian Purtell to shift to the left wing to accommodate Croker in the centres.

It will be a massive test for the 2007 Australian schoolboy, so much so that Raiders coach Dave Furner has given Graham until today to prove his fitness.

Graham did not train yesterday, and will meet with club doctors this morning before a final decision is made.

The former Country Origin representative hyper-extended his knee during last week's loss to the Wests Tigers.

It caused bone bruising to the knee which Graham had surgery on last year.

Croker was part of the premiership-winning under-20 side last season for the Raiders, and trained with the first grade side during the pre-season.

He played in two of the Raiders' three trials.

Furner said Croker's left-side experience pushed him ahead of fellow under-20 centre Daniel Vidot as a potential replacement for Graham.

''They are both playing well, and it proves we've got some young kids coming through,'' Furner said.

''I've just got Crokes there because he's had a run on the left side in the trial here at Seiffert Oval.

''But I want to give Phil as long as possible because of his experience, I know he is someone who can handle it. Is it 50-50 on whether he plays? I don't know. He's been running so it's just a matter of trying to get the swelling down, but we want to be cautious because it's the knee he had surgery on.''

Croker has been placed on a media ban by the Raiders this week to allow him to concentrate on the Roosters match.

But his former Goulburn teammate Joe Picker had no doubts Croker could handle first grade.

''I don't know what the story is with him playing or not, but he's got a great footy head on him and he's handled every challenge thrown at him so far,'' Picker said. ''If he gets a chance he'll be fine.''