Raiders prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala returns to Canberra Stadium having learnt his lesson from the "brain explosion" that cost his side two premiership points.
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Nuuausala is holding down the fort in a depleted Raiders forward pack that will have its hands full against a powerful Cronulla Sharks engine room on Sunday.
The New Zealand international is the most experienced prop left after the injuries to Sia Soliolia and Jeff Lima, while Country Origin representative Paul Vaughan is also in doubt to face the Sharks with an ankle complaint.
After an impressive 22-8 victory at Belmore over the Bulldogs followed by a disappointing 36-6 loss to the Eels in Parramatta last weekend, the Raiders are back in Canberra for the first time since they blew a 14-point lead before losing 24-20 to the Gold Coast Titans in round four.
Nuuausala was heavily criticised in the aftermath for a dumb play, hitting Titans forward Ryan James in the back.
From the penalty, the Titans marched down the field and scored the match-winning try through John Olive.
Nuuausala said he moved on from the incident and he had made an effort to take those sort of plays out of his game.
"The last time we played [in Canberra] against Gold Coast, I let everyone down," Nuuausala said.
"I let go of that after the last time we played.
"It was just a brain explosion and it probably cost the boys those two points.
"It's just something for me to learn, not to let my emotions get the best of me.
"If you're thinking about that then you're not doing your job for the team, I went past that two weeks ago."
Nuuausala has been a consistent performer the past two weeks, averaging 111m and 17.5 tackles against the Bulldogs and the Eels while conceding only one penalty.
The 29-year-old has played 182 first-grade games after joining the Raiders last season on a three-year deal.
The depth of the Raiders' front-row is being tested with the injuries to Soliolia and Lima.
A pair of 21-year-olds - Newcastle Knights recruit Joseph Tapine and Luke Bateman - have played a combined 30 first-grade games.
They are on the Raiders' bench and being used in the front-row rotation alongside Nuuausala, Shannon Boyd and Vaughan.
"I think it's always been my responsibility to lead the way, on the field and off the field," Nuuausala said.
"It's a big loss to have lost Sia and Jeff and maybe Vaughany, so everybody will have to pick up the slack in the forward pack."
After being monstered by the Eels forward pack last weekend, the Raiders face another big challenge against the Sharks.
The Raiders have proven this season they can go toe to toe with anyone after holding their own with the imposing Bulldogs forwards two weeks ago.
"It's always a good test to see where we are at," Nuuausala said.
"I thought we were pretty good against the Doggies.
"We just have to show up and I don't think we showed up on the day [against the Eels]."
