Canberra Raiders set for finals crowd boost

They've been given permission to have more than 9600 fans at their elimination final against the Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium on Saturday at 5.40pm - provided there are no sudden changes to the coronavirus landscape.

It will be their biggest home crowd since their round-one clash against the Gold Coast Titans when they welcomed 10,610 through the gates.

That was before the COVID-19 virus wreaked havoc and forced massive restrictions on crowd capacities.

ACT chief health officer Kerryn Coleman has given the Green Machine permission to again increase their crowd from the 6000 they were allowed to have for their round-25 victory over the New Zealand Warriors last weekend.

The increased figure is based on 50 per cent of the available seating at Canberra Stadium, with some parts of the grandstands unavailable due the required "clean zones" around the players and officials.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart will welcome back nine first-team regulars, including co-captain Jarrod Croker and State of Origin star Josh Papalii, after resting them for their final-round, 38-28 victory over the Sharks at Kogarah on Saturday.

But they could be without English prop Ryan Sutton, who injured his medial ligament - and potentially his anterior cruciate as well - in the win.

It was the Green Machine's ninth win from their past 11 games as they take plenty of momentum into the finals.

It's the first time they've appeared in back-to-back play-offs since 2004.

Tickets are likely to initially go on sale to Raiders members on Monday from 10am.

NRL ELIMINATION FINAL

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks, 5.40pm.