McCrone gets shot at keeping No.9 with Buttriss out for six months

McCrone has been handed the No.9 jersey for the second straight week, locking the scrum for Sunday's final game of the year against the Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium.

The Country representative is likely to get first crack at the dummy-half role next year after Buttriss had a shoulder operation on Friday.

Buttriss will spend six months on the sidelines to repair tendon damage initially sustained in the round five match against the Newcastle Knights.

He is unlikely to feature in the Raiders' trial games and will be touch and go for round one.

McCrone started at hooker in last week's 50-16 loss to the New Zealand Warriors and has been used there to great effect during the season.

Interim Raiders coach Andrew Dunemann believes McCrone has the potential to become one of the better dummy-halves in the NRL.

''I'm a big fan of Josh McCrone at nine and I see him as our starting nine,'' Dunemann said.

The Raiders are uncertain of the make-up of the Sharks side as coach Shane Flanagan considers resting several stars, including Todd Carney, Michael Gordon, Wade Graham, Jayson Bukuya and Anthony Tupou for the finals.

They are also without captain Paul Gallen, who is serving a one-game suspension.

Amid the uncertainty, the Raiders have been installed as $1.47 favourites with ACTTAB despite suffering a five-game losing streak and languishing in 13th on the ladder.

Raiders captain Terry Campese expects the Sharks to be a dangerous opponent as they prepare for sudden-death football in a week.

''You need to take some form into the semi-finals so I think they'll come here and try and put their best foot forward,'' he said.

Flanagan is preparing to face a Raiders side with nothing to lose and one that will adopt an attacking mindset.

''I expect them to play a bit off the cuff, throw the ball around and enjoy themselves because it's their last game at home,'' he said.