Canberra Raiders young gun Matt Timoko has played one of them, the other 299 by Sydney Roosters centre Josh Morris.

The clash comes about with the absence of Curtis Scott, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart taking a cautious approach in the run home to the finals.

Scott got a heavy knock on a plate in his lower leg from a previous fracture and while he's been cleared of a break the pain hasn't receded.

He didn't take part in Canberra's captain's run on Friday, opening the door for Timoko to make his run-on debut - having made his NRL debut last weekend when Scott went off injured in the win over the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Stuart also has winger Semi Valemei in the 21, with Nick Cotric or Jordan Rapana able to shift into the centres to cover Scott.

John Bateman's another option, with second-rowers Corey Harawira-Naera and Hudson Young on the bench.

It's hoped Scott will be fit for Canberra's trip to Wollongong to face St George Illawarra next weekend.

Timoko looked comfortable covering for Scott in his Raiders debut, taking a hit-up almost as soon as he got on the field.

Now he looks set to come up against a Roosters left edge containing the returning Luke Keary (ribs).

"We've got a few boys there that can cover if we need to," Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker said.

"Semi's more of a winger. Matty's there. Have to wait and see I guess, but Matty played right centre last week and did a good job.

"It's a tough assignment whoever's going to be there. [The Roosters] are strong all over the park, but their left edge with Keary and Josh Morris in his 300^th game, and Boyd Cordner and Daniel Tupou, so it's a strong edge.

"Whoever's there is going to have to be at their best."

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Croker has moved up to fifth on the all-time NRL point-scoring list with 2114 and was just 62 points behind Immortal Andrew Johns.

At his career average across 273 games, it will take him nine more to shift past the Newcastle great - making it within the realms of possibility to do it this season with four regular-season games left before finals.

He's signed with the Raiders until the end of 2024, which if he keeps going at his current rate would see him score about 720 more points - enough to take him above No.1 on that list, Cameron Smith (2714).

Hazem El Masri (2418) and Johnathan Thurston (2222) are the other two players ahead of him.

It had the Raiders co-captain thinking just one thing ahead of his birthday next Friday.

"I turn 30 next week so I know what I think," Croker said.

"It's a nice little accolade. Some of the names in that list are some of the greatest players we've had so it's nice to be thrown around with those guys.

"It's more something I'll look at towards the back end of my career and when I finish up."

NRL ROUND 17

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Canberra Stadium, 7.35pm.

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

Roosters squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 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. Sitili Tupouniua, 13. Isaac Liu. Interchange: 14. Freddy Lussick, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Nat Butcher, 17. Sonny Bill Williams. Reserves: 18. Angus Crichton, 19. Mitchell Aubusson, 20. Poasa Faamausili, 21. Drew Hutchison.