The road warrior Canberra Raiders will use a hostile Cronulla crowd as preparation for the finals as they aim to continue one of the best away from home seasons in club history.
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The Raiders have been bagged in the past for being unable to win away games and it has been the Achilles heel for their title dreams in previous years.
All of that has changed this season and the Raiders will be chasing their ninth win on the road when they play the Sharks in front of a sell-out crowd on Sunday.
If they topple one of their biggest rivals it will be just the third time since 1982 the Raiders have won nine or more away games in a year.
But the new-look Raiders are unfazed by the chance to break long-standing records, captain Jarrod Croker confident his side will embrace the challenge.
The Raiders can seal their top-four spot before the last round of the regular season if they beat the Sharks.
"It's fun being on the road. We love being at home, but that away trip you switch off a bit on the way up there and enjoy each other's company," Croker said.
"This game's going to have that same sort of semi-final mentality about it. It's a tough place to go at Cronulla, but those small suburban grounds with a sell-out crowd is where you want to play.
"They're the games you enjoy. It's always a hostile environment up there ... Cronulla are going to want to get us in the trenches and we have to handle that a lot better [this week]."
The Raiders are enjoying one of the best seasons since their last premiership on and off the field.
Crowd numbers have surged to their highest average mark since 1994; the team has spent more time in the top four this year than any season since 2003; they have the second-best defensive record in the competition; and are set to earn a top-four berth for just the second time in 16 years.
They will play at least one home final and can play a preliminary final in Canberra for the first time if they win hosting rights.
But Ricky Stuart's Green Machine has already proven it is capable of performing anywhere this season, winning eight of 11 games on the road so far.
They have won nine or more away from Canberra just twice (in 1994 and 2003) in the past 37 years and the road form has turned the lime green bandwagon into a travelling roadshow.
Sia Soliola has become the chief Viking clap drum beater in front of travelling fans after away wins.
"It means a lot to us [to have travelling fans]. They're an extension of us as a playing group ... To see supporters turning up for us and really making an effort, it shows the effort we're putting in on the pitch is mirroring our supporters as well," Soliola said.
"[Winning away] comes down to a lot of things. First and foremost, it's Ricky and the coaching staff.
"They've really done a great job in terms of getting us refocused on the task. We've always traveled well as a group, we've always enjoyed being on the road.
"When we get together, it's a good buzz. Travel is always fun for us."
The Raiders have won four of their past five against Cronulla at Shark Park, but they are bracing for a sell-out crowd and a Sharks side intent on sending off Paul Gallen with a win.
"We can't look past Canberra this weekend, they're the form side of the comp," said Josh Dugan.
"They've been playing some great footy, we've got to turn up on Sunday ready for a battle.
"Every time we've played them over the last few years it has been a battle and Sunday will be no different."
NRL ROUND 24
Sunday: Cronulla Sharks v Canberra Raiders at Shark Park, 2pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Nick Cotric, 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. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Hudson Young, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Emre Guler, 20. Michael Oldfield, 21. Tom Starling.
Sharks squad: 1. Josh Dugan, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Bronson Xerri, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Shaun Johnson, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Kurt Capewell, 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 16. Andrew Fifita, 17. Jayson Bukuya, 18. Billy Magoulias, 19. Blayke Brailey, 20. Kyle Flanagan, 21. Matt Moylan.