Canberra Raiders co-captains Josh Hodgson and Jarrod Croker led a number of Green Machine stars who knocked back the chance for a weekend off.
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Instead, they were keen to be part of Canberra's preparations ahead of a return to the NRL finals.
While Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has rested four stars from their final-round clash against the New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium on Saturday, Hodgson said they still wanted to finish as high as they can and go into the postseason on the back of a win.
Jordan Rapana, John Bateman, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Sia Soliola will all have the weekend off to get their bodies 100 per cent right for the first week of finals.
But Hodgson revealed a number of others players were also given the option to have an RDO, while some were told they were getting a rest regardless.
"[Stuart] was up for resting quite a few of us. Most boys said they want to play," Hodgson said.
"That was a good attitude to have.
"There were a few boys where he was just a straight no, he wants you to have a bit of a rest.
"Anyone who's had a bit of a niggle over the past couple of weeks could do with an extra week resting up. I think it's good.
"The boys that are having a rest really deserve it and it freshens them up coming into a massive game the week after."
Croker considered it for about a second before putting his hand up to play his 24th game of the season.
He said Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton was also offered a week off, but "didn't want a bar" of it.
"I thought about it and then I feel alright," he said.
"I hate missing footy when I'm injured let alone not injured so I might as well play. I'm keen to go again.
"[Wighton] was given the chance to not play and he didn't want a bar of that either so he's excited to go."
The Raiders are basically guaranteed a top-four finish and are playing to determine whether they finish third and travel to Sydney to play the Roosters or fourth and go to Melbourne to take on the Storm.
They'll know exactly where they stand before they run out against the Warriors, with both fourth-placed South Sydney and fifth-placed Manly playing before them.
The Rabbitohs need to beat the second-placed Roosters on Thursday night to be a realistic chance of climbing to third.
The Sea Eagles would not only need to beat Parramatta on Friday, but also hope for an 89-point turnaround in their for-and-against as part of a Raiders' loss.
Hodgson said they were determined to finish third and go into finals with back-to-back wins.
He said chopping and changing the team over the next two weeks wouldn't be an issue.
"It's a very important game for us. We still really want to finish the season on a high, finish as high up the ladder as we can," Hodgson said.
"It's going to be a tough game against the Warriors.
"They can't make the eight now, but I'm sure they'll want to finish their season on a win.
"We've been in their position the last couple of years and when you're in that last game you have the mentality you want to give everything because you know you've got a long break after it so we know it's going to be a very intense and physical game."
Nicoll-Klokstad has been a revelation for the Green Machine since his switch from the Warriors in the pre-season.
He's played every game this year, but will sit out against his former side after re-signing for three more years.
Croker said the fullback could return even better after a week off.
Nicoll-Klokstad only played seven games in two seasons in Auckland before announcing himself in Canberra.
"It's more an opportunity to rest those niggles and probably a mental freshen up as well," Croker said.
"Guys like Charnze, who have only played six or seven games coming into this year, has played every game, every minute and done a lot of work in all those games.
"So he's probably been mentally drained as well as physically so it's a nice chance for him to get a breather as well."
NRL ROUND 25
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium, 3pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Raiders squad: 1. Bailey Simonsson, 2. Michael Oldfield, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Nick Cotric, 5. Sebastian Kris, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. JJ Collins. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Joe Tapine, 20. Jordan Rapana, 21. Tom Starling.
Warriors squad: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. David Fusitua, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Blake Ayshford, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Blake Green, 8. Agnatius Paasi, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Leeson Ah Mau, 11. Adam Blair, 12. Isaiah Papalii, 13. Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: 14. Lachlan Burr, 15. Bunty Afoa, 16. Ligi Sao, 17. Adam Keighran. Reserves: 18. Josh Curran, 20. Taane Milne, 21. Hayze Perham, 22. Leivaha Pulu.