With the coronavirus sending the Raiders into lockdown way back in March, Kirsten and Joe Tapine reached out to their football family to let them know they were there if needed.

Raiders lock Joe Tapine said it showed the spirit inside the club, as they prepare to face the Cronulla Sharks in an elimination final at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

He said they'd continued to support each other with the players restricted to travelling between their homes, games and Raiders HQ since March.

"It was more my missus. She's got a kind heart and she thought if we can't do much [else] so just send a note out, check on everyone, make sure they're all good and if they need anything to give us a call," he said.

"More just touching base with everyone and making sure everyone's OK.

"That's something my wife's really big on. She loves all that connective stuff. She keeps in touch with everyone. That's a big thing in this club."

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Tapine was looking forward to getting out of the bubble when the NRL season ends - but not before they go all the way to the grand final.

After making it last year, he said the belief was there they could do it again - this time from outside the top four.

The Raiders have had to deal with the toughest travel schedule of any other team and Tapine said it had only brought them closer.

"Yeah mentally I think [it has made us stronger]. You've got those long trips together so you build a better bond," Tapine said.

"Mentally getting up for a game after travel is tough sometimes so it's a big bonus for us [to start the finals at home]."

Tapine said the fact the rookie Raiders had beaten the Sharks last weekend had the nine returning senior payers, who were rested, determined not to be upstaged.

"You don't want them to win against the Sharks and we lose so it's a big challenge," he laughed.

"They'll mock us all year. [We don't want] to give them bragging rights if they win, we lose. It's going to be tough. Every game's a knockout game now so we've got to win."

NRL ELIMINATION FINAL

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks, 5.40pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Semi Valemei 3. Jarrod Croker (c) 4. Jordan Rapana 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Tom Starling 10. Dunamis Lui 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Sia Soliola 16. Hudson Young 17. Corey Harawira-Naera. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 21. Matt Timoko.

Sharks quad: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Dugan 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Connor Tracey 7. Chad Townsend 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Toby Rudolf. Interchange: 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Andrew Fifita 17. Jack Williams. Reserves: 18. Teig Wilton 20. Mawene Hiroti.