Joey Leilua is poised to play his third game in almost five months in a blockbuster finals clash, as the Canberra Raiders hope Hudson Young will avoid a suspension when he fronts the judiciary.
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Leilua will return from suspension at right centre while back-rower Young has been named on an extended bench for Canberra's qualifying final showdown with the Melbourne Storm on Saturday.
Young is set to front the judiciary on Tuesday night to contest an alleged eye gouge with the aid of gun lawyer Nick Ghabar.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has labelled the controversy surrounding Young's alleged offence - which would be his second this season after he copped a five-game ban for an eye gouge - as "childish".
Joe Tapine will return from a rib injury at lock as the Green Machine push to earn preliminary final hosting rights in their trip to Melbourne to meet the minor premiers.
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, prop Sia Soliola, back-rower John Bateman and winger Jordan Rapana have all been named to return having been rested last week.
Bailey Simonsson has shuffled back to the bench with Siliva Havili dropping back to the extended bench.
More to come.
NRL QUALIFYING FINAL
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Melbourne, 5.40pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Joey Leilua, 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 from: 14. Bailey Simonsson, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Ryan Sutton, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Emre Guler, 20. Siliva Havili, 21. Hudson Young.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
