The Canberra Raiders have announced the team to play the Brisbane Broncos this Sunday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium.
There are several notable returns including Nathan Massey and James Stuart, following the loss of Josh Dugan to an ankle injury, and Terry Campese and Joel Thompson to groin injuries.
The injury toll is a loss for the Raiders, but coach Furner said the injuries will give other players the chance to step up.
“It’s hard when you lose players in key positions, but it gives a guy like Blake Ferguson a chance to play in the centres and James Stuart a chance to come back into the side as well,” Furner said.
“We have a tough challenge against the Broncos and we need to make sure our defence is back to where it was against the Storm and Bulldogs.”
Thompson will be out for at least two weeks, while Terry Campese is awaiting results from scans on his groin to assess the extent of his injury.
Prop David Shillington has been named in the team as he recovers from a torn pectoral muscle, but is undergoing further training before he can be cleared to play.
Toyota Cup star Josh Papalii is standing by as 18th man if Shillington is not ready to play by Sunday.
- Full team:
1 Nathan Massey (fullback),
2 James Stuart (wing),
3 Jarrod Croker (centre),
4 Blake Ferguson (centre),
5 Reece Robinson (wing),
6 Josh McCrone (five-eigth),
7 Sam Williams (halfback),
8 Dane Tilse (prop),
9 Alan Tongue (c) (hooker),
10 Brett White (prop),
11 Joe Picker (second row),
12 Bronson Harrison (second row),
13 Shaun Fensom (lock),
Interchange:
14 Glen Buttriss,
15 Josh Miller,
16 Tom Learoyd-Lahrs,
17 David Shillington,
18 Josh Papalii (extended bench)
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