Josh Papalii challenges Canberra Raiders halves

But he's also called on halves Jack Wighton and George Williams to take their games to another level in the absence of star hooker Josh Hodgson (knee).

The Raiders pack has been decimated by injury ahead of the NRL grand final rematch against the Sydney Roosters and they only have 19 fit players with NRL experience at the moment.

Not surprisingly, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart named all of them on Thursday.

Out-of-form-centre Curtis Scott has been given an injury crisis-induced reprieve to come onto the bench, while Siliva Havili will assume the hooking duties to cover for Hodgson.

Tom Starling will play just his fifth NRL game, switching his ball-boy duties to be the back-up hooker.

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Jordan Rapana comes onto the wing to replace Bailey Simonsson (shoulder), who faces season-ending shoulder surgery.

Outside of the 17, which includes one-gamer Kai O'Donnell, halves Sam Williams and Matt Frawley are the only fit players with NRL experience available.

If Stuart wants an extra forward on the bench, then he only has development players, like Darby Medlyn and Ata Mariota, to call on.

Medlyn was named on the extended bench to face reigning premiers Roosters.

Papalii, who was brilliant in the loss to the Melbourne Storm, challenged himself to do it again against a Roosters pack which has Boyd Cordner (concussion) returning to the fold.

"I don't think I'm the oldest - I'll leave that to Elliott [Whitehead] or someone - but I do feel the responsibility of taking the guys under my wing a bit more and lead the pack this weekend," he said.

"It's going to be tough against the Roosters, last year's grand final winners, and it's going to be a personal battle with our team as well.

"We're looking forward to the challenge ahead."

Papalii also laid that challenge down to Wighton and Williams.

The pair will have to shoulder greater responsibility in running the Green Machine with Hodgson out for the rest of the season.

Papalii hoped the injury toll could lead to one positive.

"Yeah I think so. It probably gives us the chance to take our game to another level and no better way to do it than when all the troops are down," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully this is the week that starts a lot of good form."

Papalii said it would change the way they played, with replacement hooker Silva Havili more or a running option rather than a playmaking one like Hodgson.

"I don't think Siliva will be trying to kick it out of hooker like Hodgo does, but I think we just have another running option from hooker," he said.

"He's a bit bigger than Hodgo. I think he's probably the only person I know to go from front row to hooker so it just shows his running ability there."

NRL ROUND 10

Thursday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at the SCG, 7.50pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Michael Oldfield, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Kai O'Donnell, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Curtis Scott. Reserves: 18. Matt Frawley, 19. Darby Medlyn, 20. Sam Williams, 21. Semi Valemei.

Roosters squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Matt Ikuvalu, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Brett Morris, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Jake Friend, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Nat Butcher. Interchange: 14. Lachlan Lam, 15. Sitili Tupouniua, 16. Mitchell Aubusson, 17. Lindsay Collins. Reserves: 18. Poasa Faamausili, 19. Ryan Hall, 20. Isaac Liu, 21. Drew Hutchison.