Brophy, a former Raiders lower-grader, has been a major part of the Bushrangers' resurgence since returning in the off-season after a stint with the Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Cup. It was no surprise he was rewarded with a spot in the Canberra Region Rugby League representative team for its opening match of the country championship against Illawarra at Cooma on June 1.

Blues coach Simon Woolford knows his side needs to defend as a unit to contain Brophy in Saturday's clash against the improving Bushrangers at Greenway Oval.

''We just need to work together on Brophy, he's a very dangerous player,'' Woolford said. ''If we go out and work on our own, he'll hurt us.

''Defensively we need to work together and limit his influence on the game.''

The Blues are aiming for their fourth win from five games this season to live up to the high expectations generated by the additions of ex-Raiders duo Marc Herbert and Trevor Thurling.

Herbert has quickly readjusted after the skilful halfback took a year out of the game last year, while Thurling's first season with the Blues has been interrupted due to a knee injury.

''They've been great leaders,'' Woolford said. ''Trevor's struggled a little bit, he had some minor surgery on his troublesome knee, so he's gradually getting back into the grind of it.

''[Herbert] has been steering us around the park and I couldn't have asked more from him.''

After winning their first two games of the season, the Bushrangers are desperate to avoid a third straight defeat. They will have to do it with a makeshift forward pack, with captain/coach Jarrod Teka shifting into the front row to accommodate the loss of two of their first-choice props through injury.

''We've had a couple narrow losses so we know we're not far off the mark,'' Teka said. ''We lost five players last week against the Scholars, so hopefully we get a few big boys back next week.''

Brophy headlines a quality Canberra squad which is attempting to win its first country championship since 1999.

Canberra Raiders Cup, round five: Tuggeranong Bushrangers v Queanbeyan Blues at Greenway Oval; Belconnen United Scholars v Goulburn Workers Bulldogs at Northbourne Oval; Woden Valley Rams v Queanbeyan Kangaroos at Phillip District Oval; West Belconnen Warriors v Gungahlin Bulls at Raiders Belconnen. All games at 3pm.