Quiet and unassuming, Dunamis Lui just gets on with his job.

That job will see him start on the bench in the crucial clash against the Penrith Panthers at Panthers Stadium on Sunday.

He's started all but two games so far this season, teaming up with Josh Papalii, Sia Soliola or Corey Horsburgh in the front row.

But Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has named Soliola and Papalii to start against the Panthers, giving Soliola the nod because it's his 100^th game for the Green Machine.

Lui scored his first Raiders try in the win over Wests Tigers last weekend.

He's two games short of his 50^th game for the club in his third season in Canberra, having undergone a knee reconstruction in 2017.

The 29-year-old joined the Raiders after stints with St George Illawarra, Manly and Brisbane and is averaging 81.2 run metres per game and 23.8 tackles.

He's part of an improved Raiders outfit that currently sits fourth on the NRL ladder, a game clear of the Sea Eagles.

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"He's really important. He's definitely one of the most consistent for the last couple of years," Soliola said of Lui.

"One of the unsung heroes that we just don't have to worry about. You just know he's going to turn up.

"He's not loud, he's not overly aggressive, but you just know he's just going to be there.

"They're the guys I really admire and we're really grateful for.

"We never take those people like Nami for granted because he's definitely a big part of who we are and definitely one of the big reasons we're doing so well."

Soliola's been relishing the chance to start the past two weeks, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart opting to use Papalii off the bench after a gruelling State of Origin campaign.

He's run for more than 140 metres in each of those starts and has helped set the energetic tone for the Raiders' pack.

The 32-year-old has been named to start alongside Papalii against the Panthers, with the Queensland big bopper having had the first half of the week off to recharge.

He said having that flexibility to mix and match the middle forwards gave them an added string to their bow.

"It's a bit of a fresh change up. Just something that we're trying to mix up and get a feel for everything," Soliola said of starting.

"And it's quite good that we've got that flexibility, we've got guys that can come in and do a good job in that starting position as well as coming off the bench.

"I think it's great that Ricky's got guys in there that really understand their roles, whether that be starting or coming off the bench, and coming in and producing a very good job."

The Raiders play a Panthers team that's looking for their eighth win in a row.

They've also won four of the past five games against the Green Machine - although the loss was their last encounter, a comfortable 30-12 Canberra victory in Wagga Wagga in round eight.

NRL ROUND 19

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers at Panthers Stadium, 4.05pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Michael Oldfield, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Sia Soliola, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Dunamis Lui, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Royce Hunt, 20. Sebastian Kris, 21. JJ Collins.

Panthers squad: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Dean Whare, 4. Brent Naden, 5. Brian To'o, 6. James Maloney, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Mitchell Kenny, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11, Viliame Kikau, 12. Frank Winterstein, 13. Isaah Yeo. Interchange: 14. Wayden Egan, 15. Jahrome Luai, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 18. Jed Cartwright, 19. Spencer Leniu, 20. Stephen Crichton, 21. Liam Martin.