Preview: Raiders v Titans

VENUE & TIME: Canberra Stadium, Saturday 26 July, 5:30pm AEST
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Titans 32 - Raiders 12 at Skilled Park, Round 4, 2008.

WALKING WOUNDED: Todd Carney is fighting fit and in terrific form but he'll be watching this one on the box. His failure to stay in the field of play during a visit to a Canberra nightclub toilet has TC on the outer in the nation's capital. Carney may have played his last game for the club. The Titans have managed to keep their noses clean despite having a thousand nightclubs in peeing distance. But they do have injuries. There is still no Luke Bailey and Scott Prince and now Mat Rogers is out too.

FORM: After a courageous win over the Roosters in Round 18, Gold Coast fell at home to Penrith. Canberra was great value in disposing of the Roosters in the rain. The Titans are clinging onto a top eight spot while Canberra is a point away, looking in on the eight.

WHO'S HOT: David Milne couldn't even crack it for a run in the NRL's official media guide at the start of the season. But he's been a real find for the men in green. Fast, tough and with a great kick return, the Raiders custodian has scored four tries in nine games. It's little wonder Canberra has re-signed him for a further three years.

WE THINK: Before Carney's wee indiscretion, the Raiders were specials to win this one. Now it promises to be a lot closer against a Titans outfit down on troops but not heart. But in the wet and cold in Canberra, it's hard to go past the Green Machine. Canberra by 14.

Teams:

Raiders: 1. David Milne 2. Colin Best 3. Marshall Chalk 4. Joel Monaghan 5. Adrian Purtell 6. Terry Campese 7. Marc Herbet 8. Troy Thompson 9. Ryan Hinchcliffe 10. Dane Tilse 11. Glen Turner 12. Joe Picker 13. Alan Tongue (c)
Interchange: 14. Ben Jones 15. Trevor Thurling 16. Scott Logan 17. Neville Costigan; Reserves: 18. Glen Burttriss

Titans: 1. Preston Campbell 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Gavin Cooper 4. Brett Delaney 5. Jordan Atkins 6. Ashley Harrison 7. Brad Davis 8. Michael Henderson 9. Nathan Friend 10. Michael Hodgson 11. Anthony Laffranchi 12. Daniel Conn 13. Josh Graham
Interchange: 14. James Stosic 15. Will Matthews 16. Luke Swain 17. Luke O’Dwyer; Reserves: 18 Matthew Cross