Goal-kicking guru Daryl Halligan says Josh Dugan and Reece Robinson need to embrace the finals hype to ensure they're not overcome by nerves if given the kicking duties on Saturday night.
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Halligan was in Canberra yesterday to put the duo through a kicking masterclass ahead of the Raiders' semi-final clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium.
The sharp-shooting legend will be at the team's captain's run tomorrow, where he will work with coach David Furner to decide who will take the kicking reins from the injured Jarrod Croker.
Croker was the highest point scorer in the NRL this season, but his finals campaign came to an abrupt halt when an accidental knee fractured his cheekbone and he had surgery yesterday.
Blake Ferguson is also a capable kicker, but the choice has been narrowed to Dugan and Robinson.
Halligan is no stranger to pressure kicks and nailed some clutch shots at goal in his career with Canterbury.
And he said the key to success for Dugan and Robinson was viewing the task as an opportunity, not a burden.
''It's a great opportunity for them, that's the way I look at it,'' Halligan told The Canberra Times.
''Someone can jump up and take it … it should be a little bit of excitement for them more than anything, it's certainly nothing that they're going to fear.
''The only thing that is different [in finals] is the atmosphere and that usually makes [your routine] happen a little bit quicker. So if you can deal with that, there are no problems.''
Croker had surgery on his cheekbone yesterday and it's unlikely he will make a rapid recovery to be available if the Raiders progress further into the finals.
It is expected Croker's injury will take at least six weeks to fully heal.
A return has not been completely ruled out, with Furner and the coaches waiting to the see the extent of the damage and the results of the surgery.
Croker's absence is a double blow for the Raiders with Dugan or Robinson to step into his goal-kicking boots and Joel Thompson moving from the second row to the centres.
Dugan took the kicking responsibilities when Croker left the field against the Cronulla Sharks, but failed to get one through the posts.
''He [Dugan] was quick in his action [against the Sharks], he rushed it a little bit,'' Halligan said.
''But I thought his second kick wasn't too bad … the first one probably spooked him. It's not as if anyone's going in cold, they've been kicking all year and Reece is handy as well, he's a natural talent.''
Furner is yet to decide on his game-day squad and the Raiders' training session yesterday and captain's run tomorrow are the team's only two on-field sessions this week.