Canberra representative team coach Jack Giddings is confident his side can put up a strong showing in the country championship despite a handful of players making themselves unavailable.
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The Goulburn Bulldogs don't have anyone in the 18-strong squad after those players in contention, including former Raiders under-20s hooker Ben Picker and English centre Nathan Chappell, elected not to play.
Giddings also has to find a replacement for Queanbeyan Kangaroos forward Adam Pearce, after he was handed a two-game suspension for using abusive language against a referee in last weekend's draw against Tuggeranong.
Pearce will miss the Kangaroos' match with Gungahlin on Saturday and Canberra's country championship semi-final against Newcastle in Wyong on June 14.
Giddings said while it was disappointing the Goulburn players decided not to be involved, citing the travel required for the one training session per week in Canberra, his squad still possessed plenty of talent.
"There will be all the experts around town saying we're hopeless and blah, blah, blah, but last year we were very unlucky not to go any further,'' Giddings said.
"We played Illawarra in the first round in Cooma and were beaten 18-12 and we had two tries disallowed and I thought they had a try off a forward pass.
"I spoke to their coach and they were glad to see us off because they won the next two games reasonably comfortably.''
Giddings has selected a mix of youth and experience, including former Raiders and St George Illawarra Dragons centre David Howell.
Howell is in his first season in the Canberra Raiders Cup with the Gungahlin Bulls after spending the past several years in England in the Super League.
The Canberra side is co-captained by Michael Brophy (Tuggeranong) and Josh Ayers (Gungahlin), while Bushrangers halfback Carl Johnson is one of the exciting young players to watch.
Brophy said he was honoured to share the duties with Ayers after he was a vice-captain last year, only to have to pull out because of injury.
"That was a bit of a shock to be made co-captain, but playing with all the boys should make the job easier given they're all pretty experienced,'' Brophy said.
"Josh will do most of the talking and I'll just play off the back of him. Josh has been captain for the last few years, and I think having Lincoln Withers and David Howell at the Bulls has helped him play a more relaxed role.''
CANBERRA RAIDERS CUP
Saturday: Tuggeranong Bushrangers v Goulburn Bulldogs at Greenway Oval, 3pm; Gungahlin Bulls v Queanbeyan Kangaroos at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, 3pm; Belconnen United Scholars v Queanbeyan Blues at Northbourne Oval, 3pm. Sunday: West Belconnen Warriors v Woden Valley Rams at Raiders Belconnen, 3pm.
