The Raiders U20's are aiming for five straight wins when they face the 14th placed Rabbitohs on Sunday at ANZ Stadium.
Currently sitting in eighth place, the Raiders need a win to ensure both the Knights and Broncos don’t overtake them in the fight for finals football.
The long awaited return of Kalani Going is a timely boost for Brett White’s side. The second rower suffered a foot injury in Round Five against the Bulldogs.
“Edrick Lee did it a couple of years ago, and Blake Austin did it when he was with the Wests Tigers, so they’ve been helping me get through it. It’s been a fairly long process,” said Going.
Going returned to local league football for the Woden Valley Rams last weekend, playing 50 minutes in his first taste of football since April.
The forward was pleased to be back with the team but said he felt the pain of the team’s mid-season slump.
“I’ve been with them when they were going through the rough times. It wasn’t just them going through it; I was going through it too because that’s my team."
"Now the boys are just finding their way - staying hot, not the hot and cold team that we were – and it’s just a real good vibe.
"Everyone is positive, and we’re just ready to do the work and get the job done."
Teenage sensation Nick Cotric will be missing from the match after his call-up to the Australian Schoolboys side. Jack Murchie moves to centre as his replacement.
Although the Rabbitohs have struggled in 2016, the Bunnies enter this weekend’s match in good form after beating Manly in a 44-40 nail biter last weekend.
Going is wary of what the Rabbitohs could produce when they clash on Sunday.
“If we take the Bunnies lightly, they could easily just turn it around and smoke us - which I’m sure we’ve done a few times this year, taken a team too lightly and they’ve turned around and put us to show,” said Going.
“Just as long as we go along with the same mental attitude we’ve had the last few weeks, I’m sure we’ll get the job done.”
The match between the Raiders and Rabbitohs kicks off at 11.45am on Sunday and is live on Fox Sports Channel 501. Updates will also be on the Raiders Twitter.
