Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker says he won't rush back for the start of the NRL season to avoid long-term damage to his knee.
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The Raiders suffered a major injury setback last weekend when Croker dislocated his knee in the NRL All Stars match at Newcastle.
Croker has been ruled out for at least the first three rounds of the season, describing his injury-forced lay-off as "torture" as the Raiders aim to back up their best season in 20 years.
Croker has been having physiotherapy sessions up to six times per day in the hope of fast-tracking his recovery.
"I'm in a big, whopping knee brace, but hopefully I'm only in it for a week," Croker said on Mix 106.3.
"...I'm probably one of those guys who tries to play a little bit early [after injury], which is probably not a good thing.
"I've done that in the past and been lucky enough to get away with it. But with something like a dislocated kneecap, I've never done it before.
"It's something I want to make sure I get 100 per cent right or it could become something that slips out willy nilly.
"I don't want to have it happen again. So if it takes three or four weeks of the season ... it's a long year. It's going to be torture for me, it won't be much fun missing it so we'll see how we go."
The Raiders play their first and only pre-season trial against the Newcastle Knights at Seiffert Oval on Saturday night.
Coach Ricky Stuart will roll out all of his big guns to get them game time before the opening round of the season against the North Queensland Cowboys on March 4.
Lachlan Croker will make his comeback from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while former Queensland star Dave Taylor will be playing for an NRL contract in his first game for the Raiders.
Stuart is yet to settle on a replacement skipper for Croker, but Sia Soliola and Josh Hodgson loom as men who can step up to take on the job.
PRE-SEASON TRIAL
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights at Seiffert Oval, 6.30pm. Tickets available from raidersshop.com.au. The match will be live-streamed at raiders.com.au.
Raiders squad: Eddie Aiono, Blake Austin, Luke Bateman, Shannon Boyd, Adam Clydsdale, Nick Cotric, Lachlan Croker, Thomas Cronan, Shaun Fensom, Josh Hodgson, Edrick Lee, Joey Leilua, Jeff Lima, Dunamis Lui, Makahesi Makatoa, Mark McCormack, Anthony Moraitis, Brent Naden, Josh Papalii, Junior Paulo, Clay Priest, Jordan Rapana, Zac Santo, Aidan Sezer, Sia Soliola, Scott Sorensen, Joseph Tapine, Topi Taufa, Dave Taylor, Jordan Turner, Elliott Whitehead, Jack Wighton
