But Stuart is confident the harsh lessons of a failed season will be the building blocks for success in the coming years as the Raiders target a win to finish their year.

The Raiders have recalled Sia Soliola for the clash against the Melbourne, setting the stage for a showdown with Billy Slater five weeks after a controversial tackle that knocked out the Storm fullback.

Soliola served a five-week suspension and has been named to start in the last game against the Storm after Stuart gave him the option of sitting out the match if he want to avoid extra scrutiny.

The reality is the microscope will be on the entire Raiders squad rather than just Soliola after they were knocked out of finals contention last weekend.

Many predicted the Raiders would be a premiership contender this season after ending a 21-year preliminary final drought last year and finishing second on the ladder.

But Stuart's men failed to fire when it mattered most and the Raiders will finish 10th this season despite having most of their key players available for every game this year.

The Raiders have boasted a full-strength back line for all but four of 23 games this season, including rookie Nick Cotric who has scored 16 tries in his debut year.

The Raiders have scored 577 points this year - the third highest in the competition - but Stuart said they were guilty of attacking at the wrong times.

"We need to get better at winning close games and we need to get better at being a mentally tough team," Stuart said on NRL 360.

"We need to be better and enjoying the grind, because if you want to win a grand final you've got to enjoy the grind.

"We won games of football last year by a lot of points ... it was very hard to string guys back in and just say take the tackle.

"You've got to earn every right for every offload, you've got to earn the right to play attractive football.

"We weren't winning the ruck or the tackle to play that second-phase football. I think it's been very, very costly."

Joe Tapine will shift back to the bench to make way for Soliola's return, while Elliott Whitehead moves back to his preferred second-row position.

Raiders halves Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin have played all 23 games together this year, but Stuart said they were still learning how to manage games.

"There has to be belief with the coach, they have to believe in what you're coaching in regards to game management," Stuart said.

"It can be taught. Controlling games is knowing the tackle count, the score and how long there is to go. There has to be intelligence about it, but most definitely it's coachable.

"...We've got a fairly young playing group in terms of games together ... we'll have a good core for the next three years and that's a really important focus in building longevity for success."

NRL ROUND 26

Saturday: Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park, 7.30pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2.

Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Nick Cotrick, 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. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Sia Soliola. Interchange from: 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Joe Tapine, 16. Dave Taylor, 17. Luke Bateman, 18. Jeff Lima , 19. Clay Priest, 20. Royce Hunt, 21. Michael Oldfield.

Storm: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jesse Bromwich , 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Jordan McLean, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Tohu Harris , 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange from: 14. Kenny Bromwich , 15. Tim Glasby, 16. Nelson Asofa Solomona, 17. Slade Griffin, 18. Robbie Rochow, 19. Joe Stimson, 20. Young Tonumaipea, 21. Nate Myles.