NSW State-of-Origin prospect Jack Wighton, two-time club player of the year Shaun Fensom, rookie sensation Anthony Milford and fellow young gun Edrick Lee headline a list of 13 players set to hit the open market at the end of 2014.

Representative front-rowers Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Brett White, Country utility Josh McCrone and first-grade regulars Dane Tilse and Reece Robinson are also off contract, as are fringe players Jake Foster, Sam Mataora, Jordan Rapana and Matthew Allwood.

The uncertainty over the playing roster makes the decision as to who will replace David Furner absolutely crucial. Interim coach Andrew Dunemann remains the favourite to take over next year and enjoys strong support from the players.

Recruitment will be high on the agenda, with Melbourne Storm forward Lagi Setu the club's only signing for next year at this stage.

Rapana and former New Zealand Warriors winger Bill Tupou, who signed until the end of 2015, joined the Raiders mid-season.

Going the other way are St George Illawarra-bound duo Joel Thompson and Sam Williams, veteran utility Shaun Berrigan (expected to retire), Joe Picker, Dimitri Pelo, Shannon Boyd and Haydon Hodge.

The imminent departure of troubled centre Blake Ferguson will open up another spot on the roster.

The Raiders have stood down Ferguson for failing to attend training and he is at long odds to remain at the club.

The Raiders have also had to deal with the controversy involving winger Sandor Earl, who faces the possibility of a life-time ban for the use and trafficking of a peptide.

Ferguson's imminent departure could provide a silver lining, freeing up room in the salary cap for the Raiders to then retain Wighton.

Just as important is the opportunity for the 20-year-old Country representative to play in his preferred centre position rather than on the wing.

Wighton is one of the brightest young prospects in the competition and would be highly sought-after if he can't strike a deal with the Raiders.

The Raiders would be keen to lock in Wighton to a new contract before November 1, which is when he can negotiate with rival clubs.

Milford's future remains in limbo as he considers activating a get-out clause relating to family illness to return to Brisbane next year.

In some good news for the Raiders, they re-signed three of their ladder-leading National Youth Competition (under-20s) team on Friday - NYC fullback of the year Jack Ahearn, junior Kiwi international Jeremy Hawkins and front-rower Jeff Lynch.

Ahearn is a Valley Dragons junior and could challenge Robinson for the No. 1 jersey.

"I grew up supporting the Raiders, so to be able to re-sign with them is a great feeling for me,'' Ahearn said.

''I have an old 1994 jersey signed by Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley and it's still at home.

''I look forward to wearing that green jumper for another two years."