But it might not and, as usual, all Oldfield can do is be ready for when an opportunity comes.

He's been mostly training in the centres, but has also been switching around - like the rest of the squad - with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart preparing for anything the NRL season might throw at him.

Injuries have come at the wrong time during Oldfield's career - just as an opportunity arises.

But whenever he has had a chance he's shown what he's capable of and has scored 12 tries in his 18 NRL games for the Green Machine.

The fact that's come across three seasons highlights how limited those opportunities have been.

The departures of Jordan Rapana and Joey Leilua, along with the NRL potentially standing down Curtis Scott, means there could be a spot on the Raiders' right edge up for grabs.

Oldfield, who travelled to Perth as part of the Raiders' NRL Nines squad, has had a reasonably injury free pre-season.

That hasn't been the case the previous two seasons where he's had "significant injuries" put him on the back foot.

But he's fit going into the 2020 campaign and he's ready to fill whatever role's asked of him come round one against the Gold Coast Titans.

It's a position the 29-year-old was all too familiar with.

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"Just the usual. It's no different. There might be things moving around me, but I'm still the same," Oldfield said.

"I'm feeling confident with my form at the moment, I'm feeling fit and I'm ready to play anywhere.

"Obviously Curtis has had a little mishap there, but we don't know how things are going to play out.

"For me it's the same thing every year. It's just put myself in the best shape and form I can be.

"I'm willing to fall into any position I need to. Just depending on [Stuart], what he wants to do and how he wants to play out the side."

The Raiders were planning for any contingency even before Scott was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

Oldfield's one of those contingencies for the centres.

They've also got Nick Cotric who could shift in a position and Harley Smith-Shields has been impressing since moving up from the under-20s.

Oldfield has also been training in other positions, as has his teammates, and he felt that would make the entire squad better.

"I've been mainly training in the centres," he said.

"I don't know if it's more covering our bases, but a lot of boys have been playing out of position. And it's out of their preferential position.

"I think that's literally just in case one person falls down here we've got different sorts of options.

"I think that's been quite smart because it's made a lot of boys learn positions that they otherwise wouldn't have learnt.

"Me personally I find when you're learning one position it helps your understanding of the other position so when you got back to whatever your preferential position is your knowledge of the game and understanding of your inside or outside man is better.

"I reckon it helps your game. Like upskilling in any job."

Oldfield was looking forward to seeing what the young Raiders squad was capable of at the Nines in Perth.

He's one of a handful of senior players in the squad, along with Elliott Whitehead, who will captain the side, Sia Soliola and Sam Williams.

Aside from the chance to develop some of their young players coming through, the main thing the Raiders will want from the Nines is no injuries.

"We've assembled ourselves a decent squad. We've got a lot of young kids in there," Oldfield said.

"This is their bread and butter. They'll be thriving for an opportunity to get on the field.

"We want to go over there and do a job, but at the same time we want to take as much precaution as we can in terms of injuries.

"Our biggest goal is obviously the season and doing one better.

"We'll use it as a good chance to build going into the season and our first trial.

"It's exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing some of these young boys get around.

"They've been working hard all pre-season. Getting the footy in hand and actually playing some footy, it's awesome."

NRL NINES

Friday: Canberra Raiders v Gold Coast Titans at Perth, 9.15pm.

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs, 3.55pm.