And the premiership-winning coach wishes good luck to his fellow mentors who are in the privileged position of being able to rest players in the final round of the home-and-away season - even if it works against the Green Machine.

Stuart adds the introduction of a bye round before the finals, like they have in the AFL, wouldn't be favoured by all teams because some like to carry momentum into the play-offs.

The Raiders face a must-win clash against the Sydney Roosters at Mackay on Thursday night to have a chance of making the top eight, while also relying on his good mate Craig Bellamy's Melbourne Storm to beat Cronulla.

Bellamy's rested some of his stars for the final round clash so they're fresh for finals, including Cameron Munster and Christian Welch.

The Raiders have won five of their past eight games, but Stuart also felt they were playing well in those games they lost.

It's why he's found the predicament they've put themselves in with a mid-season form slump so frustrating.

"We're a semi-final team, very disappointed with where we are on the table and relying on one game and another game's results - that's disappointing," Stuart said.

"But if we didn't have the strength in the playing group we would've been out of the running two or three weeks ago, but we're not so we're hanging by our teeth.

"That's why it disappoints me that we've put ourselves in this position because we've really started to hit our straps - as we do every year, we play well at the back end of the season."

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When it comes to the annual debate over resting players in the final round, Stuart backed any coach who was in a position to do so.

He did it himself last season, playing a very young side that beat the Sharks.

Stuart told The Canberra Times Bellamy had a job to do and he expected no favours from his mate.

There's been some debate about whether the NRL should copy the AFL's approach, which saw the introduction of a bye round in the week before finals.

But Stuart said every coach had differing priorities when it came to the eve of the play-offs.

"If you've earned the position to rest players this week well good on ya," he said.

"I was criticised last year for debuting so many young players who went out and beat the Sharks - there wasn't too much criticism after it.

"If we want to start criticising coaches for resting players to give themselves the best shot to win a semi-final - it's pretty disappointing because you're doing everything you possibly can.

"Some coaches might disagree and think they don't want to break the routine ... and timing their run."

AT A GLANCE

Thursday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Mackay, 7.50pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Harley Smith-Shields, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Matt Timoko, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Matt Frawley, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Joe Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Sia Soliola. Interchange: 14. Emre Guler, 15. Ryan Sutton, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Siliva Havili. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Semi Valemei, 20. Elijah Anderson, 21. Trey Mooney.

Roosters squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Adam Keighran, 5. Matt Ikuvalu, 6. Drew Hutchison, 7. Lachlan Lam, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Sitili Tupouniua, 13. Isaac Liu. Interchange: 14. Sam Walker, 15. Egan Butcher, 16. Ben Marschke, 17. Tukupa Hau Tapuha. Reserves: 18. Moala Graham-Taufa, 19. Brad Abbey, 20. Naufahu Whyte, 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita.