Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has continued to show his faith in youth as they prepare to take on the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday.

But there was more bad injury news for Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker, who has been ruled out with a back injury after being a late withdrawal from the NSW Cup on the weekend.

In a selection boost, the Raiders' unvaccinated players have all been granted medical exemptions that will allow them to play in Queensland.

Those exemptions should also cover Canberra's round-eight clash against the New Zealand Warriors at Redcliffe.

Trevilyan has been brought in to cover the loss of Josh Hodgson (knee) and back-up Tom Starling at dummy half, while Frawley will wear the No.7 jersey after Brad Schneider tested positive to COVID-19 on Monday.

The 20-year-old hooker showed promising signs in the Raiders' first pre-season trial - scoring a try before a head knock forced him out of the game.

Raiders winger Nick Cotric backed him to slot straight in.

"Yeah definitely. He had a great pre-season and played really well in the trial match," he said.

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

Frawley will be the third Raiders No.7 in a matter of weeks after Canberra lost first-choice Jamal Fogarty (knee) on the eve of the season.

This time he's set to benefit from a positive rapid antigen test - after he was ruled out due to one just hours before Canberra's first trial.

He was Sam Williams' roommate, with Williams returning a positive RAT before getting on the team bus to go to the ground.

Cotric said it's something they would need to get used to, but he was confident whoever was brought in would get the job done.

"That's going to happen throughout the season - there's going to be little disappointments with COVID and what not," Cotric said.

"The boys have been training well so they should fit right in - they're been in the system."

There was also no room in the 17 for Canterbury-bound prop Ryan Sutton and exciting young fullback Xavier Savage.

Sebastian Kris was named as 19^th man as he returns from a week's isolation, while young winger James Schiller kept his spot in the starting side following his match-saving tackle in the dying minutes of the round-one win over Cronulla.

NRL ROUND TWO

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Townsville, 7.35pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Matthew Timoko, 4. Semi Valemei, 5. James Schiller, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Matt Frawley, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joe Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Corey Harawira-Naera, 13. Elliott Whitehead. Interchange: 14. Adrian Trevilyan, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Adam Elliott, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 18. Xavier Savage, 19. Sebastian Kris, 20. Sam Williams, 21. Ryan Sutton, 22. Peter Hola, 23. Trey Mooney, 24. Harry Rushton.

Cowboys squad: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Valentine Holmes, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Tom Dearden, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Jordan McLean, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Coen Hess, 11. Tom Gilbert, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14. Jake Granville, 15. Heilum Luki, 16. Mitchell Dunn, 17. Griffin Neame. Reserves: 18. Reuben Cotter, 19. Scott Drinkwater, 20. Connelly Lemuelu, 21. Brendan Elliot, 22. Ben Condon, 23. Emry Pere, 24. Daejarn Asi.