Harawira-Naera met with the Raiders chief medical officer on Saturday and the club was hopeful the NRL would allow him to join them on Monday - or Tuesday at the latest.

It's likely he'll get some short-term accommodation - with Jordan Rapana already reaching out to the second-rower to let him know he can stay with his young family - before finding a place of his own.

The NRL will also go through the 25-year-old's recent travel history to ensure he hasn't been to any coronavirus hotspots like Campbelltown or Liverpool.

He's been vaccinated for influenza so that won't prevent him from travelling to Townsville to play the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday.

The Raiders were yet to hear back whether their two players who haven't had the flu shot - Josh Papalii and Joe Tapine - have had their requests for an exemption on medical grounds approved.

Rapana was looking forward to what Harawira-Naera will bring to the Green Machine.

"Great player, good bloke and I think he'll be a great addition to the club," he said.

"He's obviously got to do COVID stuff, but I've made known to him if he needs a place to stay my house is open til he gets up and going and gets sorted.

"I'm excited to have him be a part of our club. He'll be a great addition and he's a great player, and looking forward to getting stuck into it with him."

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

Harawira-Naera's a second-rower, but can also play in the middle.

If he's picked to play the Cowboys he could slot onto the edge or help bolster their sticks in the middle.

Raiders gun second-rower Elliott Whitehead joked the left edge was already taken, before adding he'd be happy to play in the middle, centres or even fullback if coach Ricky Stuart needed him to do.

Unfortunately the Raiders' injury toll is such there's openings in all three spots.

Both Whitehead and Hudson Young could shift from the second row into the middle, while John Bateman (shoulder) is close to a return and could play in either of those positions as well - or even in the centres.

Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad's finger injury could see Rapana or Nick Cotric shift to the custodian role, opening up a spot in the outside backs.

"Look, I don't think he'll be playing left [edge]," Whitehead laughed.

"No, he's a quality player and he's going to be a great addition to our squad.

"He's an international player and he's only going to benefit with our squad. Ricky's done a great job getting him and I can't wait for him to join us.

"I'll be alright if I play middle, if I play centre, if I play fullback. I'm not really bothered as long as I'm playing."

Despite the ever-growing injury toll, the Raiders have produced gutsy effort after gutsy effort, including their 18-12 victory over South Sydney on Saturday night.

It's seen them retain their spot in the top eight, despite many pundits writing their finals hopes off.

Whitehead revealed it was the confidence Stuart gave the squad that had them turning up for one another every week despite being low on numbers.

"It's just something that he drives into us. He believes in the squad that he's got and the young kids that keep coming in keep stepping up and doing a great job for us," he said.

"He's got confidence in playing the young kids which gives us a lot of belief in their ability. If we keep playing like we're doing and keep getting results we'll be alright."

NRL ROUND 12

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Townsville, 5.30pm.