Canberra Raiders hooker Kurt Baptiste is engineering his future in more ways than one when he faces his second international opponent in as many weeks.
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After taking on Kangaroos and Queensland dummy-half Cameron Smith in last weekend's 28-14 loss to the Melbourne Storm, the job doesn't get any easier for Baptiste up against Kiwi star Issac Luke and the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Monday night.
Baptiste, who is studying engineering part-time at the University of Queensland, is playing to secure a new deal as the Raiders continue to be strongly linked to Hull KR hooker Josh Hodgson.
The Raiders already have starting dummy-half Glen Buttriss signed for next season.
Baptiste, 23, has been impressive in his past three games for the Raiders off the interchange bench, providing plenty of direction around the ruck and displaying some solid defence.
The former Brisbane Bronco got a front-row seat to Smith's terrific all-round performance and knows Luke is capable of repeating the dose if the Raiders don't limit the Rabbitohs' forwards.
"Cameron Smith was one of the best players on the field and controlled the pace of the game,'' Baptiste said.
''He knew when to slow up the game and knew when to quicken the pace up and put the kicks down the corners and make us come out from our own end.
''Souths have got a really big pack with all those Burgess boys and Luke works off the back of that.
''The main focus will be to shut the forwards down first.''
English media is reporting that Hodgson is set to play for the Raiders next season.
A Raiders spokesman said the club wouldn't be making any comment on recruitment strategy or players they were targeting until any potential signings were finalised.
Hull KR coach Chris Chester told the Hull Daily Mail he didn't know Hodgson's intentions.
"Josh hasn't said anything to me about his future yet," Chester said.
"If he goes, he will be a massive loss, but until I get the phone call from the chairman we'll regard Josh as a Hull KR player.
"There is a lot of speculation and Josh has an ambition to play in the NRL.
"Whether that's next season or not, I don't know."
Baptiste joined the Raiders this season on a second-tier contract after not playing in the NRL since 2012.
He bided his time in the Queensland Cup with Souths Logan, making the Queensland Residents team, before he was called up for his Raiders' debut in the 19-18 round 16 loss to Wests Tigers.
Baptiste is unsigned for next season and is leaving contract negotiations with his manager.
"I'm just concentrating on playing footy and concentrating on the game this week,'' Baptiste said.
"I'm just trying to play my best each week and trying not to let the boys down.''
Apart from his NRL commitments, Baptiste has his head in the books as he sets himself up for a career after he hangs up the boots.
"I enjoy it, it's something else to do and keeps my mind occupied,'' Baptiste said. ''I'm slowly knocking away at it.
"Footy's not going to last forever, so I've got to have a plan B after football.''
