Ferguson has played down the significance of facing the Cronulla Sharks - the club he left at the end of 2009 because he didn't believe they could win a title - in today's elimination semi-final at Canberra Stadium.

Those comments made the 22-year-old representative centre public enemy No.1 in his much anticipated return to Toyota Stadium last year, Sharks fans yelling abuse and pouring beer on him as he left the field.

''He's been waiting his whole career to play in the finals, and it's a bonus getting to play the Sharks,'' Earl said of Ferguson. ''He's pretty excited. This is his first finals series, so he's more pumped for a game than I've seen him.''

The Sharks didn't make the finals in Ferguson's two years at the club, and are still chasing their first premiership after entering the competition in 1967.

Ferguson spent last season with the Raiders on the wing before being shifted to the centres to great success midway through this year.

The switch led to his maiden selection in the Country team, with Raiders legend Mal Meninga predicting NSW and Kangaroos caps wouldn't be far away.

Earl can take some of the credit for Ferguson's red-hot form.

The pair have formed a dynamic combination down the Raiders' right-hand edge, clicking almost instantly since Earl made the switch from the Penrith Panthers.

''It's a dream for me to find that winger-centre combination,'' Earl said. ''That first game [against the Dragons] we both felt like there's something good here. When we're both on, things come off that probably normally wouldn't.''

Earl's arrival has coincided with the Raiders' surge up the ladder, winning eight of their 10 past games to secure an unexpected home final.

The 22-year-old can't believe how his luck has turned around.

He was struggling to get a game with the Panthers, two years after he made headlines for a stunning airborne try in their finals loss to the Raiders.

The Panthers bowed out in straight sets in 2010 after finishing second at the end of the season, with Earl determined not to let the same thing happen this time.

''The five in a row and beating all the big-name teams, it'll be all for nothing if we can't do anything with it,'' he said. ''We're going into the finals looking to rip through these teams and get as far as we can.

''Four wins is our goal.''

Earl hoped his chance would come for another memorable finals moment, albeit this time on the winning side of the ledger.

''It's one of those things where you think it'd be great to score one of them to put yourself on the map,'' he said.

''After that year I was looking to go to the next level, but it wasn't to be.

''It's funny how you can go from such a low to such a high like I am now.''