Instead, Gerard Sutton, considered the top whistle blower in the NRL, will suit up for the Raiders-Sydney Roosters clash at the SCG on Thursday night.

It's the first time the teams have met since last year's grand final and also the first time the Green Machine have played at the SCG since the 1987 decider.

Given the controversy surrounding Cummins' now fabled "six again" gaff in last year's decider it's not surprising he hasn't been given the job of officiating the rematch.

Especially since he hasn't taken charge of a Raiders game at all in the 2020 season.

But the Raiders will have Ben Galea in the bunker for the match.

He was in the bunker when video referee Steve Chiddy incorrectly sent Canberra winger Bailey Simonsson to the sin bin in the Raiders' 20-14 loss to the Melbourne Storm on Saturday.

While Chiddy won't take charge of the bunker for the Roosters game, Jared Maxwell will - he was the video ref who oversaw the controversial end to the Manly-Newcastle game.

Maxwell failed to award the Sea Eagles a penalty that would've given them the chance to send the game into golden point.

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

Raiders lock Joe Tapine said playing against the team that beat them in last year's grand final would motivate them - despite their heavy injury their heavy injury toll.

The Green Machine have just 19 fit players with NRL experience on their roster now.

Their forward pack has been especially hard hit, with Sia Soliola (face), Corey Horsburgh (foot) and Emre Guler (ankle) all set to miss most if not all of the rest of the season.

They could have John Bateman (shoulder) back in four-to-five weeks, but Simonsson's season could also be over.

"The Roosters have been the standout team. They haven't really done anything wrong - everything they do is on point and they're one of the benchmark teams of the comp," Tapine said.

"It's always motivating to play them. They're the benchmark. You've got to lift your performance every week, but they're consistent so you've got to lift it even more."

The Raiders have been linked to Canterbury forward Corey Harawira-Naera after he won his appeal against his sacking by the Bulldogs for having sex with a school girl.

There was talk Harawira-Naera was unhappy with the way the Bulldogs have treated him and could look for opportunities elsewhere.

But the Raiders believe the 25-year-old will remain with the Bulldogs.

Canberra are on the lookout for middle forwards to bolster their depth in that area.

Tapine, who has played for New Zealand alongside Harawira-Naera, felt he would be a good addition to the squad.

Especially given he's a second-rower and the raiders are set to lose Bateman at the end of the season when he returns to Wigan on a four-year deal.

"Definitely, he's a great player. I know Corey personally and he's a good dude as well," Tapine said.

"With [Bateman] leaving there's that vacant spot so it's pretty good that the club is having a look around and seeing the options."

NRL ROUND 10

Thursday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at the SCG, 7.50pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Michael Oldfield, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Kai O'Donnell, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Curtis Scott. Reserves: 18. Matt Frawley, 19. Darby Medlyn, 20. Sam Williams, 21. Semi Valemei.

Roosters squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Matt Ikuvalu, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Brett Morris, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Jake Friend, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Nat Butcher. Interchange: 14. Lachlan Lam, 15. Sitili Tupouniua, 16. Mitchell Aubusson, 17. Lindsay Collins. Reserves: 18. Poasa Faamausili, 19. Ryan Hall, 20. Isaac Liu, 21. Drew Hutchison.