Ryan Sutton desperate to drive Canberra Raiders into NRL finals

While emerging as one of the Green Machine's best, the Englishman's yet to taste the play-offs since joining the club ahead of the 2019 campaign.

He was dropped in the lead-up to the finals two years ago and then suffered a season-ending injury on the eve of last year's play-offs.

Now the Raiders face a simple equation - win both their remaining games to get to the post-season.

That starts with the 11th-placed New Zealand Warriors, who were also an outside chance of making the eight, at Mackay on Friday night.

Then there's the tough task of the fourth-placed Sydney Roosters at the same venue Thursday week.

Canberra are locked in a three-way battle for eighth-spot with Cronulla and Gold Coast - although the Warriors, St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers were long-shots to squeeze their way in.

Sutton's been terribly unlucky not to be part of the Raiders' past two finals campaigns and wants nothing more than to fix that over the next fortnight - having made a habit of playing in the big games during his time with Wigan in the English Super League.

"I'm obviously desperate to play [finals]. We're in a really good place at the minute," he said.

"We're playing some good rugby and as a team we're in a good head space. When we go out there we've got to make sure we don't think about playing finals, we think about winning this game."

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Sutton said it's up to the Raiders middles to lay down the foundation to win the game, especially against the Warriors pack.

Matthew Lodge was expected to return from a two-game suspension to join Addin Fonua-Blake in the Warriors front row.

The Raiders forward options will be bolstered by the return of Ryan James and Corey Horsburgh from their two-game loan-spell with Canterbury.

Sutton felt, while it was weird seeing his teammates wearing the Bulldogs jersey, that game time could be invaluable for the Raiders during the run home.

"It's strange to watch, but it's also good to watch as well. They've not been getting a lot of rugby into the legs," he said.

"They've got match fitness in their legs now ... if the option's there for them to come in there'll be ready to go and hit the ground running."

NRL ROUND 24

Friday: New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders at Mackay, 6pm.