Star forward Josh Papalii says the Canberra Raiders pack can match it with the best of them but knows those words will mean little unless they prove it with an 80-minute shift.
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Canberra's new-look forward pack is adjusting to life without two heavyweights in the front row with Shannon Boyd and Junior Paulo no longer a part of the Green Machine.
Papalii has shifted into the front-row and says what they have lost in size, they can make up for in skill - but the Raiders enforcer is adamant Canberra cannot afford to rest on their laurels and wait for improvement to kick in.
Do that and Papalii fears the Raiders would risk falling behind in the race to the finals.
Now the Green Machine have a chance to make a statement against what has quickly become a star-studded Newcastle Knights forward pack at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.
Papalii and his Raiders comrades will go toe-to-toe with State of Origin forwards David Klemmer and Tim Glasby in a showdown set to give both revamped packs an idea of where they reside in the pecking order.
"I don’t think any forward pack is going to be an easy task," Papalii said.
"With the forward pack we have, we can match a lot of forward packs. We definitely don’t have the size this year but we’re definitely accounting for that with our skill.
"It’s tough going in the middle, but like I said before the season, I’m going to put my hand up to play anywhere for the team. At the moment it’s in the front row. Anyone can have a good game, but it’s good to play in a winning team.
"[I’m happy to play] just wherever. As long as I’m wearing that green jersey, running out next to my boys, and hopefully doing a job.
"We showed some promising signs towards the end of the game [against Melbourne], but we just can’t afford to leave it that late. There’s a lot of positives to take out, it’s only round two, and I guess that’s the beauty of it.
"We’ve got [room] to improve but we’ve got to do it quickly."
The Raiders could be without international back-rower Joe Tapine in their search to find another gear as they await scan results on his hand injury.
Tapine's absence would force coach Ricky Stuart to make some changes to his side to face the Knights with Papalii looming as an option to shift from the middle to the edge.
Sia Soliola can also fill the void but John Bateman seems the most likely after he plugged the gap left by Tapine for the remainder of their round two clash with Melbourne.
