Band of rookies face a major test as Canberra Raiders left depleted

There are seven men among the Canberra Raiders' ranks hoping they have the answer.

There is halfback Aidan Sezer and a trio of outside backs in Seb Kris, Michael Oldfield and Bailey Simonsson.

Then there is Hudson Young, Emre Guler and Royce Hunt looking to plug gaps in a forward pack steered by Siiva Havili.

Out goes 1082 games and seven of Canberra's elite, and in comes 306 games worth of rookies and seasoned players searching for an NRL berth.

Snapping a three-game losing streak against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

Josh Papalii, Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton have all been drafted into State of Origin camp while Josh Hodgson has joined an overflowing injury ward for up to two months.

Hodgson is nursing a fractured thumb while Joey Leilua's season is all but over following neck surgery.

John Bateman will return to training this week as he eyes an early return from a fractured eye socket, but round 13 looms as a more likely date. Jordan Rapana is not expected back yet.

Wighton won't be there this week - but he delivered some home truths following their third consecutive loss.

"We've really got to go and have a good look at ourselves," Wighton said.

"We let them be the better team with the way we turned up, our attitude and energy. That's something we've really got to fix quickly or it's going to be a long year."

The club's depth has certainly convinced Origin-bound Papalii they can.

"We've got a lot of young forwards and a lot of young backs coming through the ranks there with our feeder club Mounties," Papalii said.

"I'm actually looking forward to watching the boys play this weekend, there's a few missing but I think they'll be alright."