New Zealand Warriors help Canberra Raiders prepare lime green wall for NRL finals

Raiders hooker Siliva Havili has been named to start in his preferred position in the No.9 jersey when the two teams go head to head at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

While the Warriors are out of the finals race, Havili said the Green Machine was on its guard against their off-the-cuff attack.

The Raiders have the fifth best defensive record in the NRL, conceding less than 16 points per game.

It's something they've prided themselves on over the past two seasons and Havili said it was an area they were determined to have ready for the finals - which start in two weeks.

The fifth-placed Raiders are still in the hunt for a top-four finish as they look to end the regular season with wins against the Warriors and Cronulla.

"It's going to be hard for us. We expect them to be chucking the ball around and playing a bit ad-lib," Havili said.

"They've got nothing to lose so it's a bit harder to play against. They'll be firing for that.

"We always say defence is a mindset, an attitude thing. For us we're preparing for bigger things ahead: October football, we're playing to win the premiership.

"There's more at risk for us to ... let in easy tries, let in that sort of ad-lib footy.

"For us it's a bigger challenge ahead because it's preparing us for that back-end of the season."

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Havili has shown his versatility since joining the Green Machine.

He came to Canberra to help fill the massive hole vacated by a Josh Hodgson knee injury and then adapted to add a different dimension at lock.

With Hodgson again going down this season, Havili has found himself switching between both positions to form a hooker-tag-team with Tom Starling.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has started both and also had both on the field at the same time at various times throughout the season.

He said he wanted to get some extra minutes into Havili's legs this week, which was why he was returning to the No.9 jersey.

While happy to do whatever the team needed, Havili revealed hooker was his favourite position.

"I prefer to play hooker, that's my primary position. It's what made me come here," he said.

"I love playing that position and that's where I'm most comfortable at.

"But then again if we're down in the middle or I'm needed to be in the middle I can also fill in there. I don't mind also playing that too because I love running the ball."

NRL ROUND 19

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium, 2pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Semi Valemei, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Jordan Rapana, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Ryan Sutton, 16. Hudson Young, 17. Corey Harawira-Naera. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Matt Frawley, 20. Matt Timoko, 21. Sia Soliola.

Warriors squad: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2. Adam Pompey, 3. Adam Keighran, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. Hayze Perham, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 8. Lachlan Burr, 9. Karl Lawton, 10. Isaiah Papali'i, 11. Jack Murchie, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: 14. Wayde Egan, 15. Adam Blair, 16. Eliesa Katoa, 17. Tom Ale. Reserves: 18. Josh Curran, 20. Paul Turner, 21. Gerard Beale, 22. Rocco Berry.