Hudson Young and Nick Cotric raring to go for Canberra Raiders' NRL clash with Manly Sea Eagles

Young has bounced back from a five-week suspension and a stay in reserve grade to return to the Raiders' bench for a clash with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

A rib injury will keep Joe Tapine sidelined for up to two weeks, paving the way for Ryan Sutton to enter the starting side and thus opening a spot for Young on the bench.

Young has been yearning for a first grade recall having "learnt a lot" during his hefty ban for an eye gouge on Canterbury forward Aiden Tolman in June.

Three matches for Mounties in the NSW Cup is all he needed to shake off the cobwebs and convince Raiders coach Ricky Stuart he is worthy of a place in the third-placed NRL outfit.

Tapine's injury-induced absence comes as Nick Cotric declares himself devoid of any fitness woes as the Raiders winger prepares for the steepest learning curve of his promising career.

The 21-year-old is on the cusp of his maiden first grade finals series in a whirlwind season which has delivered a State of Origin debut, his first serious injury and his first suspension.

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Cotric says match fitness was a key factor in Raiders coach Ricky Stuart's decision to replace him for the final 13 minutes of Canberra's clash with Melbourne last week.

Utility back Bailey Simonsson has been kept on the bench as cover but Cotric insists he is raring to go for a Raiders outfit on a collision course with another top four team.

Manly are unchanged for a clash which could have major implications on the NRL's top four in a season that has presented plenty of new challenges for Cotric.

"Definitely. It has been a bit full on this year, everything is happening. It's all a learning curve for me," Cotric said.

"I keep improving each week too, it's been a massive learning curve for me. I'm feeling 100 per cent now after those couple of weeks out, I feel good now.

"This weekend is going to be a big test for us too because Manly is such a great side. They knocked off Melbourne a couple of weeks ago.

"We've just got to back up our performances and each week be consistent. The boys are looking forward to another big game."

Cotric has returned to the wing and rekindled his partnership on the left edge with Raiders captain Jarrod Croker following Joey Leilua's return from a serious neck injury.

Leilua has slotted back into right centre inside New Zealand international Jordan Rapana to bolster one of the competition's most impressive groups of outside backs.

"I'm reunited with my buddy, it's good, I haven't been out there for a couple of weeks," Cotric said.

"Toota is such a good talker on the field, it's good. I'm slotting in comfortably back in that spot with him.

"Me and Toota are always talking to each other on the field and we have [built] a little bit of a combination there over the years. It helps a lot.

"I feel comfortable outside him, and I trust him on the inside of me. It's a good relationship we've got with each other on the field, we've still got to work on it but I feel pretty comfortable outside him."

Cotric says Leilua coming through the Melbourne clash unscathed in his return to right centre is a huge boost for the Raiders on the road to the finals.

"Definitely, Joey is such a talented player. He had an outstanding game in his first game back for a while," Cotric said.

"It's good to have strike power out wide like that with him back. We've got the Leipana show back too so they're happy about that."

NRL ROUND 23

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm. Tickets from Ticketek.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Sia Soliola, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Bailey Simonsson, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Hudson Young, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Siliva Havili, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Michael Oldfield.