While they are the competition's pacesetters, the Dragons have beaten the Raiders just once in their past 10 clashes and won only twice in eight trips to Canberra since their merger in 1999.

Riding a seven-game winning streak to lead the NRL competition by two games, the Dragons copped a quadruple blow yesterday as three players were charged with dangerous throws that could result in suspension.

Added to that news, former Test centre Matt Cooper revealed he was struggling with a torn ligament in his heel and will require painkilling injections for the rest of 2009.

''It's pretty sore every time I run so I just have to take it easy,'' Cooper said, after missing training yesterday.

''[I will] just needle it up and hope for the best.''

Cooper is adamant he will not miss any NRL games with the injury, but the same can't be said for NSW prop Justin Poore, centre Beau Scott and second-rower Matt Prior.

The trio was charged by the match review committee. Poore faces up to three weeks' suspension for his spear tackle that broke the nose of Penrith winger Shane Elford. He can reduce the ban to two weeks with an early guilty plea.

More Raiders news in today's Canberra Times