Kikau might have 10 centimetres in height and 23 kilograms on Bateman, but it didn't stop the England international from going after the Penrith Panthers' second rower in Wagga Wagga last year.

Hopefully there's a happier ending this time, with Bateman forced from the field with a fractured eye socket in the first half.

The Canberra Raiders' clash with the table-topping Panthers at Penrith on Saturday night will be the first time the pair have butted heads since that May day in 2019.

It will be Bateman's second game back from shoulder surgery, after the 26-year-old starred in his return last weekend.

Returning with him was that combativeness and will to win that, along with his family, defines Bateman.

So infectious are those Bateman qualities, Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (finger) was disappointed he missed that return in the win over North Queensland.

Nicoll-Klokstad is back himself this week, having missed just one game with a compound dislocation of his finger.

He's relishing the chance to suit up alongside Bateman for the first time this season.

"I was a little bit upset last week I wasn't playing because I really wanted to be out there for John's first game back and obviously Corey [Harawira-Naera] debuting," Nicoll-Klokstad said.

"But I'm really excited and stoked I get the opportunity to do that this week.

"John takes every battle personally and it will be no different this weekend. He'll just be looking to do his job for the team and he's a winner.

"If you're not up to his standard he's going to drag you up there. I can't wait for this game.

"Penrith are on top of the table for a reason and this will give us a good gauge of where we're at."

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Bateman's return also helped stiffen up the Raiders right edge, which had become something of a merry-go-round with injuries and form forcing constant changes.

This will be just the second time since round six the Green Machine have had the same four players on that edge two weeks in a row.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has put the pressure on the four there now - Bateman, George Williams, Curtis Scott and Nick Cotric to stop the revolving door through their form.

"There is some pressure on those boys on the right edge there in regards to their positions," he said.

"If they perform well they've got the opportunity to create that stability. That comes down to the boys."

Not only was Bateman outstanding - with 163 run metres, a linebreak assist, a try assist, four tackle busts and 32 tackles - but Scott was also excellent in his return to the side after being dropped following round eight.

Both of the Raiders' tries came down the right, with Scott scoring one of them and Williams the other.

"That experience [of Bateman's] outside George, inside Curtis, Nick's experience as a winger outside Curtis, that definitely gave us some impact last week on the right edge," Stuart said.

"They were really good last week, the right edge. I thought Curtis's return was really good for him and ... each part of his contribution in defence or attack gives him some confidence."

NRL ROUND 13

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers at Penrith Stadium, 7.35pm.

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

Panthers team: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Brent Naden, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Api Koroisau, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaac Yeo. Interchange: 14. Tyrone May, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Zane Tetevano. Reserves: 18. Mitch Kenny, 19. Matt Burton, 20. Billy Burns, 21. Daine Laurie.