CNK is back in training for Canberra Raiders

And in even better news - he's a chance of playing the Manly Sea Eagles Friday week.

Throwing even more options into Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart's fullback mix, the returning Bailey Simonsson (toe) was an option to fill the custodian role to return Jordan Rapana to the wing against the Melbourne Storm at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Thursday night.

It means Stuart's starting to get most of his troops back as they look to hold onto their spot in the NRL top eight.

They've never played an NRL game at the Sunshine Coast, but they did relocate there to escape the toxic smoke during the bushfires last year and they played a pre-season trial against the Canterbury Bulldogs there in 2018.

The Raiders have sorely missed Nicoll-Klokstad, who was initially ruled out for the rest of the season after having surgery on a neck injury he suffered in round five against Penrith.

As The Canberra Times revealed in June, the Raiders have struggled without the New Zealand international.

They've won just 40 per cent of their games since he got injured - compared to winning 65.4 per cent of games with him.

They're less potent in attack, but more importantly, they concede almost two tries more per game in his absence.

But he's been training with the Raiders on the Gold Coast and Stuart revealed on Wednesday he could make a shock return as early as next week.

"It won't be too far away before Charnze will be available to play as well. He's back to full training," Stuart said.

"It's always the unknown with those types of injuries and surgeries. It's something you leave in the hands of your medical people.

"He's a very professional trainer who does everything right.

"It's not far away ... we're hoping it might be a situation that next week he could be available to play, but he's got to do a little more contact and a little more work before that gets the tick."

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Simonsson's return couldn't be more timely, with just four rounds remaining for the Raiders to secure a finals berth.

It also helped cover the loss of metre-eater Semi Valemei, who's set to miss two weeks due to a fractured larynx.

Simonsson gives Stuart more options at fullback - he played three games there before injuring his toe in round 16.

Rapana has been at the back ever since, getting through his usual mountain of work.

But he's also the Raiders' leading try scorer and a return to the wing could add more potency to the Canberra attack.

"It does throw a little bit of an opportunity for us to play Bailey at fullback [Thursday] night as well," Stuart said.

"We might even start with Bailey at one."

NRL ROUND 22

Thursday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Sunshine Coast Stadium, 7.50pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Matt Timoko, 5. Harley Smith-Shields, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Joe Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Corey Harawira-Naera, 17. Sia Soliola. Reserves: 18. Sebastian Kris, 19. Matt Frawley, 20. Dunamis Lui, 21. Siliva Havili.

Storm squad: 1. Nicholas Hynes, 2. Dean Ieremia, 3. Reimis Smith, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Christian Welch, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Harry Grant, 15. Chris Lewis, 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen. Reserves: 18. Tom Eisenhuth, 19. Tepai Moeroa, 20. Jordan Grant, 21. Isaac Lumelume.