Canberra Raiders Indigenous All-Star Tom Learoyd-Lahrs will be aiming to build on his pre-season this weekend, when he returns to the Raiders line-up against the Bulldogs in Dubbo on Saturday night at Apex Oval.

Learoyd-Lahrs missed last weekend’s trial due to a shoulder injury he picked up in the All-Stars match and will be out to get some valuable match fitness ahead of the Raiders season opener in a few weeks time.

The Raiders powerhouse is expecting a tough contest against the resurgent Bulldogs and said it’s a chance for the Raiders to get things right before the competition proper and said personally he’s keen to make sure he’s got himself ready for the season.

“I think its going to be a good game, both teams are looking to field their strongest sides and it’s a good opportunity to see where we are at this stage of the year and get some running in the legs as well,” Learoyd-Lahrs said. “Time on the field is everything, I have a few things I need to work on and its great to get a chance to play some footy this weekend.”

Learoyd-Lahrs said he expects the Bulldogs to come out inspired in front of a crowd which will be cheering on Bulldogs home town hero Andrew Ryan and said it’s up to the Raiders to make sure they match the Bulldogs early on.

“The game will be very physical, I think we need to pick up our intensity in defence and it’s a chance against the Bulldogs to get out there and up the ante and be right for the first round in a few weeks time,” he said. “We need to get some aggression in our defence and up our attack as well. We need to get back to the basics and do them right.”

The Raiders have their own representation in the region with both Josh Miller and Joel Thompson coming from nearby Forbes and Thompson gets his chance in the centres due to the thumb injury to Joel Monaghan.

Thompson said he’s not fazed by the task of filling in for Monaghan and said he knows what he needs to do to be successful in his new position.

“I was looking to get in the team somewhere so playing back row or centre doesn’t bother me, I’m just glad to be out there,” Thompson said. “The positions are very similar in defence and in attack I just need to be ready to run if the space opens up.”

Although he’s played most of his young career in the back row Thompson said he’s worked his game on being able to play centre as well and said he had improved in a couple of key areas this off-season.

“I trained this pre-season playing some centre as well as a couple of games last year so I know what to expect,” he said. “I think my decision making is good at the moment and my defence has been Ok as well so hopefully I can play well.”