That's the Canberra Raiders' philosophy and while they say there's no magic formula to winning at home, coach Ricky Stuart has a plan to change their capital fortunes and make the players feel like they belong.

In a bid to make Canberra Stadium feel more like home and turn around one of the worst records in the club's history, the Green Machine has adopted a unique preparation that has helped propel them to the cusp of the NRL's top four.

They stay together in a Canberra hotel the night before a game in a mini camp with massages, physiotherapy and food available.

Then they turn up to a refurbished Canberra Stadium change room that has had walls knocked down to make them more comfortable.

Lastly, they pass the pictures of lime green legends such as Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley and Bradley Clyde plastered on the walls of the tunnel leading to the field.

"The changes we've made this year were to really just freshen up our approach," Stuart said.

"It's not the reason why we are winning games at home, we've got a better football team and we're learning as we go.

"But going into our mini camp before games at home gives everyone that extra opportunity to prepare better, and everything counts."

Canberra fullback Jack Wighton said it allowed the squad to prepare the same way for every game – whether it was on the road or at home.

"It's to mix it up from last year, but it's also to get us the same routine week-in, week-out," he said. "So when we go away or play at home we get into the same routine. That's the reason we're going into a motel."

The Raiders will play the North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium in icy conditions on Monday night, with the chill set to shock the Townsville-based defending premiers.

It's a chance to keep rebuilding a capital fortress after winning just three of 12 home games last year and slumping to the worst record in Raiders' history.

After losing seven home games by seven points or less last season, Stuart gathered his senior players at the start of the year and it was decided they would sacrifice one night at home to be together in a Canberra hotel to prepare.

It's a tactic that worked for the Raiders in their 2012 charge to the finals and the results this season are also already proving to be worthwhile.

This year they've won six of eight and can press their claims for a top-four berth if they topple the Cowboys.

"When you've got the team in camp 18 hours before kick-off, you know where they are mentally," Stuart said. "They can get an extra massage, they can eat the right things.

"We lost so many close games over the past 12 months that if it's one extra run or one extra tackle because they've had a 1 per cent better preparation, then it all counts.

"Guys can bring their families in if they want to. I take them away from their wives, partners and children enough as it is, so there's no way I would stand in the way of that.

"Blake Austin and Sia Soliola do everything early [if we're in on a Saturday] so they can watch their sons play footy. What son doesn't want their dad there to watch?

"There's flexibility, because I want my players to be happy. It's about family involvement."

Raiders winger Brenko Lee said seeing images of legends such as Meninga, Daley and Clyde in the tunnel before heading onto the field inspired the team.

"You see past greats, the premierships they've won, and they're the last people you see before you run out and you don't want to let them down," Lee said.

"The likes of Mal Meninga, Bradley Clyde and Stuart and those blokes like that ... you know that those guys certainly did very well in the Raiders jersey."

NRL round 18: Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, 7pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1.

RAIDERS: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Brenko Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Sia Soliola, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Shaun Fensom. Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Clay Priest, 16. Paul Vaughan, 17. Joe Tapine.