Papalii's one of three Raiders who have refused to get the flu shot so far, along with fellow front-rower Sia Soliola and Joe Tapine.

The 27-year-old didn't want to go into the reasons behind his decision to sign the NRL's waiver rather than have the jab, but hinted it was related to his young family.

He will finally play his 200^th NRL game when the Green Machine take on the Melbourne Storm in Melbourne on Saturday.

Papalii played his 199^th game just before the coronavirus forced the NRL to go into lockdown and has been stuck just short of his milestone for the past nine weeks.

The Raiders are looking for their third consecutive win against the Storm for the first time in their history, having knocked the Melbourne team out of last year's finals race.

Papalii said he never had any worries about whether he'd make the milestone after the NRL revealed their COVID-19 regulations, which included potentially being forced to sit out of he didn't have the flu shot.

"That's a personal thing for me and my family. For me to explain the reasons I don't think that would be right," he said on Wednesday.

"I do have my reasons and my family reasons as well. Our medical status isn't the best for our kids as well."

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The Raiders face two potential trips to Queensland in August, when they take on the North Queensland Cowboys in round 12 and then the Gold Coast Titans three weeks later.

It means Papalii, Soliola and Tapine don't have to decide whether to get the flu shot for another two months.

While the trio have signed the NRL's waiver, the Queensland government currently won't allow anyone who hasn't been vaccinated for influenza to play or train in their state.

It means Papalii could not only be forced to sit out those two NRL games, but also any State of Origin clashes held in Queensland.

The Maroons star said there was plenty of time before he needed to worry about whether to change his stance.

"We've still got a bit of time until Queensland games and all that. When that time comes I'll look after that side of things," Papalii said.

"My focus is fully on training and on the game this weekend, and hopefully enjoying my 200^th game with a win."

He was excited about finally playing his 200^th game - although he wished he could've done it before the coronavirus hit.

Especially given his parents won't be there to watch.

But it has allowed him to mark the milestone back where it all began for the powerful prop.

Papalii made his debut in the Raiders' 20-12 win over the Storm in Melbourne back in round 10 in 2011.

Since then he's not only gone on to become a crucial cog for the Green Machine, but also to play for Queensland and Australia as well.

"It's awesome. I wish I could've done it before this coronavirus hit, but it wasn't meant to be," Papalii said.

"[I'm] looking forward to the weekend and my career first started down in Melbourne when I played my first game.

"Going there to play 200 is something special. Just a shame my family can't make it down. But I'm going to have the boys right there next to me and hopefully enjoy a good win down in Melbourne."

NRL ROUND THREE

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Melbourne, 7.35pm.

Raiders team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Corey Horsburgh. Interchange from: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Michael Oldfield, 18. Jordan Rapana, 19. Matt Frawley, 20. Kai O'Donnell, 21. Tom Starling.

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Justin Olam, 4. Marion Seve, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange from: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 16. Christian Welch, 17. Max King, 18. Tom Eisenhuth, 19. Brenko Lee, 20. Ryley Jacks, 21. Darryn Schonig.