No way Ryan Sutton was missing Canberra Raiders' Shark attack

It's no secret the Canberra Raiders prop's omission from last year's finals series has been driving him all season to ensure he doesn't miss the 2020 NRL play-offs.

So even if the 25-year-old was asked to have a rest this weekend, he was still going to insist on pulling on the lime green jersey to face the Cronulla Sharks at Kogarah on Saturday.

Especially with a top-four spot on the line.

While everyone's written off the young Green Machine heading up the Hume Highway - as the Sydney pundits have been doing all year - there's no pats on the back in Canberra simply for getting a game.

The Raiders have their sights set fairly and squarely on beating the Sharks.

A win gives them a chance to jump from a guaranteed fifth-place finish to fourth - provided the Wests Tigers beat the Parramatta Eels later on Saturday night.

Sutton was dropped ahead of the Raiders' qualifying final last year and watched the entire finals series from the sidelines.

It burnt the Englishman and has driven him ever since.

"Honestly, if [Raiders coach Ricky Stuart had] ask me did I want a rest I would've said no," Sutton said.

"I've been in this situation last year where I didn't play and I don't want that to happen again."

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And as for writing off the Raiders, everyone did it when Josh Hodgson went down with a season-ending knee injury.

They kept doing it as the Green Machine's injury toll continued to mount.

And they've done it again for this young Raiders outfit that boasts three NRL debuts and a Canberra one as well.

Try telling that to Raiders acting captain Sam Williams, who will have his family cheering him on from the Kogarah stands.

"We're not going into this game for just pats on the back because we're playing in the NRL or anything like that," Williams said.

"We've got a job to do. We want to win, There's not many games outside of semi-finals that you want to win any more than this one.

"It'd be a massive achievement. Just to be in those sheds after the game with this group of players and the smile on their faces.

"Just to sit around and relax afterwards would be something I'd cherish forever."

While it's a young and inexperienced 17, the Raiders forward pack is still one to be feared.

Sia Soliola, returning from a Le Fort fracture of his face, has more than 300 first-grade games of experience.

Sutton, Dunamis Lui, Hudson Young, Corey Harawira-Naera, Siliva Havili and Tom Starling are all first-grade regulars.

But they do have a young bench, with Sutton the leader of that group, which includes Kai O'Donnell (three NRL games) and debutant Darby Medlyn.

"Definitely [I have a leadership role on the bench]. I still see myself as a young person, but just speaking them to about not doing something you wouldn't usually do," Sutton said.

"Just chatting to them really. Taking the nerves away and making sure that they're good going into the game.

"I think that's the main thing. Leadership qualities on the field will come from everyone once the 13 is on the field - younger or older.

"I think that's the good thing we've about this squad. We really rally around each other. I"m really looking forward to this weekend."

NRL ROUND 20

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Kogarah Oval, 5.30pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Adam Cook 2. Semi Valemei 3. Matt Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Nick Cotric 6. Matt Frawley 7. Sam Williams (C) 8. Dunamis Lui 9. Tom Starling 10. Sia Soliola 11. Hudson Young 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Siliva Havili. Interchange: 14. Kai O'Donnell 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Darby Medlyn 17. Jarrett Subloo. Reserves: 18. Ata Mariota 19. Joe Tapine 20. Jack Wighton 21. Elliott Whitehead.

Sharks squad: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Wade Graham 7. Connor Tracey 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Siosifa Talakai 13. Toby Rudolf. Interchange: 14. Scott Sorensen 15. Jack Williams 16. Andrew Fifita 17. Teig Wilton. Reserves: 8. Billy Magoulias 19. Braydon Trindall 20. Bryson Goodwin 21. Daniel Vasquez.