Canberra have lost their past five games ahead of their Magic Round clash against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Lang Park on Saturday.

It's their worst in-season losing streak since 2014.

"Through times like this it's really important you go back and look at all your processes on how you're coaching, all of your meetings, your preparation and nothing's broken there," Stuart said.

"Change for the sake of change I won't do. Obviously you try and lighten the load a little bit at times.

"This week's it's been heavier periods of training where we're focusing on things we need to improve on.

"There certainly are areas of our game we're working on to improve."

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Stuart revealed he took the losses personally and it led to him becoming more reclusive during the tough times.

He felt they were a better team than their 12^th position on the ladder suggested.

That's backed up by the fact the Raiders were one of the premiership fancies heading into the 2021 season, having made the preliminary final last year after making the grand final the season before that.

"It hurts because of where we've been over the last couple of years," Stuart said.

"We're a better football team than our position on the table shows. That frustrates you as a coach, you get annoyed because you're not winning.

"I don't think anybody handles losing well, but I take it very personally and that's why I bunker down, I don't go out because it's a personal thing and it's hard to handle."

Stuart welcomed back England international Josh Hodgson from a calf injury and he'll look to use him in tandem with hooker Tom Starling against the Bulldogs.

It's a role Hodgson's filled in the past, when he's shifted from dummy half to lock.

Stuart said the 31-year-old would bring experience and energy to the Green Machine, which was timely given their run of outs.

"I hope to get him on at the same time as Tommy," he said of Hodgson.

"There might be a period there where I can give Tommy a break, but I know at times over the years I've had Tommy on the bench or Siliva on the bench and they move into the game with Josh - it's a good combination so that's a big chance too."

Stuart has been critical of some of his players' efforts recently, but said he'd learnt a gentle touch was needed now compared to when he started coaching in 2002.

He'd used positive reinforcement this week to show the Green Machine they weren't far away from that elusive win.

"I've got to be careful. It's not like it's 15 years ago when you can be a little bit stronger on players. I've learnt that," Stuart said.

"But still you've got to hear the truth. I've got to hear the truth about me. I'm most critical on myself.

"Whether it's the right or wrong way to go I showed the boys how good I thought we were in attack.

"I thought [we had] some very sloppy pieces of defence to show them we weren't far away from winning that game [against Newcastle] and should've and could've won it. But we didn't. It's not all negative."

NRL ROUND 10

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs at Lang Park, 3pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Semi Valemei, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Emre Guler, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Hudson Young. Interchange: 14. Josh Hodgson, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Ryan James. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Matt Timoko.

Bulldogs squad: 1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Will Hopoate, 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Tuipulotu Katoa, 6. Brandon Wakeham, 7. Jake Averillo, 16. Ava Seumanufagai, 9. Sione Katoa, 10. Luke Thompson, 11. Adam Elliott, 12. Chris Smith, 13. Renouf Atoni. Interchange: 14. Bradley Deitz, 15. Corey Waddell, 17. Matt Doorey. Reserves: 20. Joe Stimson, 21. Aaron Schoupp, 23. Ofahiki Ogden.