But former Raiders captain Alan Tongue says it now looks achievable if they play with the same attitude they had in their win over Parramatta.

There's a logjam of up to seven teams competing for the final two spots in the top eight, with just four premiership points between them with six rounds to go.

Tongue felt the seventh-placed Cronulla Sharks and 10th-placed Gold Coast Titans were the two other likely contenders to round out the finals places.

Three wins on the trot has brought the Green Machine back into finals contention and they face one of their rivals for the top eight in the Newcastle Knights at Lang Park on Saturday.

They're now ninth and just points differential behind the Sharks and St George Illawarra (eighth).

But the Raiders do have one of the toughest runs home out of the seven teams - they face four top-eight teams, although one of those are the struggling Dragons, including the ladder-leading Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters.

The Dragons have the toughest fixture - facing South Sydney twice, Penrith and the Roosters as they continue to struggle since 12 players were suspended for holding an illegal barbecue at the since sacked Paul Vaughan's house.

Newcastle had the easiest draw, with only one top-eight side (the Sharks) to play and they have the lowly Brisbane Broncos twice.

Wests Tigers also have a relatively easy draw, while the Sharks, Titans and Cowboys' fixture were fairly similar.

Tongue was confident the Raiders could ease their way into the eight.

"If they play with that attitude like they did on Thursday night they're going to be right in there, which is exciting," he said.

"To think a few weeks ago it seemed a fair mountain to climb, but they showed in the performance the other night there is a real desire and intent to what they're doing and I think a few of the combinations are starting to come together as well.

"They've given themselves a really good shot and they've really set a standard too I think - when you look at the style of play they did - for how they need to play going forward."

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He also felt the Sharks were well placed to hold onto their spot - although the loss of half Shaun Johnson (hamstring) didn't help.

Tongue liked their mix of strike and tough forwards.

He also felt the Titans would benefit from not having to pack up and move interstate for potentially the rest of the season - like the 13 non-Queensland teams had to do.

"I think the Sharkies have got enough and they've shown they've got some points in them," Tongue said.

"They've got a tough forward pack, they've got a good little mix there when they get it right.

"If they can stay fit and healthy they're definitely a chance.

"I think the Raiders have got a really good chance, the Sharks are going to be in there and the Titans too.

"They've got a calibre of players and one of the real great assets for them is they haven't been too disrupted by all of the changes.

"That puts them on the front foot in my eyes."

Meanwhile, NRL head of football Graham Annesley said on Monday Raiders winger-cum-fullback Jordan Rapana's match-winning effort was a "legitimate tackle".

NRL ROUND 20

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights at Lang Park, 5.30pm.

THE RUN HOME

Sharks (7th, 18 points): Sea Eagles, Warriors, Knights, Tigers, Broncos, Storm

Dragons (8th, 18): Rabbitohs, Raiders, Panthers, Roosters, Cowboys, Rabbitohs

Raiders (9th, 18): Knights, Dragons, Storm, Sea Eagles, Warriors, Roosters

Titans (10th, 16): Bulldogs, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Storm, Knights, Warriors

Knights (11th, 16): Raiders, Broncos, Sharks, Bulldogs, Titans, Broncos

Tigers (12th, 14): Warriors, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Sharks, Panthers, Bulldogs

Cowboys (13th, 14): Broncos, Titans, Tigers, Eels, Dragons, Sea Eagles