Ryan James and Corey Horsburgh have been loaned to the Canterbury Bulldogs for two weeks, but Raiders coach Ricky Stuart does have the option to recall them if he needs to.

The Raiders are locked in a five-way battle for the final two spots in the NRL top eight and have a tough run home with games against Manly, the New Zealand Warriors and the Sydney Roosters.

While James and Horsburgh could be with the Bulldogs for that Manly game, they could still play a vital role.

Canterbury play the Warriors at Redcliffe on Sunday and then the Newcastle Knights next Saturday.

Wins would end the Warriors' faint finals hopes and be a blow to the ninth-placed Knights, who have the easiest run home of any team in the play-off mix - thus helping the Canberra cause.

James will start in the front row alongside Bulldogs prop Ava Seumanufagai, while Horsburgh will come off the bench.

It will be the latter's first NRL game since injuring his wrist in round 12.

Seumanufagai said the duo would benefit from the game time with the Bulldogs if Stuart calls them back into the Green Machine.

"That's so true," Seumanufagai said about Bulldogs wins also helping Canberra.

"Look, we're pretty desperate for a win. I'm sure they'll be wanting to prove something for themselves as well.

"It will be a big game [on Sunday]."

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With the Raiders and Bulldogs both based on the Gold Coast, the Canberra pair have been able to stay in their original hotel rooms and still join the Canterbury camp.

They join their new teammates from breakfast through the rest of the day before rejoining the Raiders for dinner and the rest of the night.

Bulldogs forward Joe Stimson said 30-year-old James's experience was especially valuable given the Bulldogs have a young squad.

James has played 156 NRL games and brings the leadership of having captained the Gold Coast Titans before arriving in Canberra this season.

"Corey and Ryan have certainly settled in really well, they've adapted to training really well," he said.

"They've really added something to the squad actually, especially with Ryan's experience.

"We've got such a young team and he's come in and really contributed a lot to the team.

"Corey's just a really nice guy and we're happy to have them the next two weeks.

"They've bought into everything we've trained for this week and all our video."

Canterbury sent out an SOS after they lost props Luke Thompson, Dylan Napa and Jack Hetherington to suspension.

Napa's known for being a fiery redhead - and the Bulldogs have got the perfect replacement for that role in Horsburgh.

While James has slotted straight into the Bulldogs, Seumanufagai revealed Canberra's Big Red has been a bit quiet in his new surrounds.

He was hoping that might change when he runs out against the Warriors on Sunday.

"They're just having a barbecue now. All their families are meeting the boys' families," Seumanufagai said.

"It's good. It's always good to meet new people and include new people. But some of the boys already knew 'Rhino'.

"I'm not sure about Red though. He's quiet at the moment, but I can't wait to see him fire up."

NRL ROUND 23

Friday: Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles, venue to be confirmed, 6pm.