Returning Raider Josh Papalii believes lessons learned in last year's grand final defeat can propel the club to another deep playoff run.
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Canberra's first hurdle is a sold-out elimination final against a Cronulla side boasting just three remaining players from the Sharks' maiden premiership win four years ago.
Papalii, meanwhile, is one of 11 Raiders who featured in last year's controversial 14-8 grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters.
The recently crowned Mal Meninga Medallist is also one of nine players returning for coach Ricky Stuart, who rested the bulk of his superstars in last weekend's final-round win over Cronulla.
Eight of the returning Raiders played in last year's grand final. Englishman George Williams is the odd man out, having joined the club in the off season.
"Most of us have been in this situation before," Papalii said.
"Making the grand final last year, we learned a lot from what happened. We know what we can do as a team and that's probably why you see smiles in and around [the club].
"We know we've still got the job ahead of us but we're still going to have fun with it."
Wade Graham, Andrew Fifita and Chad Townsend played in Cronulla's historic 2016 premiership. The trio were also part of 10 core players who featured in last season's 28-16 elimination final loss to the Manly Sea Eagles.
Graham and Fifita played in last weekend's 38-28 loss to the Raiders, while Townsend was serving the final game of a three-match ban for his shoulder charge on Kalyn Ponga last month.
"Every time we play the Sharks there's always something there, it's obviously going to be a close game on Saturday but I think the boys are ready, we're prepping well," Papalii said.
"The boys played well on the weekend and gave all the old boys a rest. I was cheering on the boys, like I had 17 sons playing.
"That was a bit stressful but I was very happy with all the young boys debuting. This club's in good hands, the energy's great around the camp."
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Raiders' Clubperson of the year Dunamis Lui led the pack in Papalii's absence last weekend, and opened the scoring with a barnstorming effort close to the line to set Canberra on their way to a ninth win from its last 11 starts.
He's been named to start alongside Papalii this weekend, while veteran Sia Soliola will play his second game back from a facial injury, helping to cover the loss of Englishman Ryan Sutton.
"Sia comes straight back in now, it's good for us to have his experience and his leadership too," Lui said.
"It's a whole new comp [finals], the level that everyone plays with goes sky high. All of us here, we're all on the same page which is we want to win that title.
"Every team in there, they're all top class. We'll all be working hard again to get to that gf, hopefully this time we'll go one better."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
