Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart unleashes Xavier Savage on North Queensland Cowboys

And young Raiders centre Matt Timoko got through training on Tuesday morning, meaning he just has to get through the captain's run to take his place in the team to face the North Queensland Cowboys.

They're trying to end a two-game losing streak and avenge a 26-6 loss to the Cowboys in round two after a short, five-day turnaround from the weekend.

Savage was named as 14^th man to play the Cowboys at Canberra Stadium on Thursday night.

He shone in the pre-season trials at fullback with his lightning pace and attacking flair, but Stuart has been patient with the 19-year-old, wanting him to learn his craft at NSW Cup level before permanently bringing him into the NRL side.

While he's an undoubted attacking talent, he's yet to fully master the defensive side of the game - especially organising the defensive line, which is the toughest skill for a custodian to conquer.

But it's one of fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad's strengths - with The Canberra Times revealing last year how much better the Green Machine were defensively when he's in the side.

They conceded almost two tries more per game without him.

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And defence was one of the biggest priorities for the Green Machine who have conceded the second most points this season (122) - with only the St George Illawarra Dragons (144) leaking more over the opening five rounds.

But Stuart could give Savage licence to roam when he injects him off the bench against the Cowboys - it's something the Melbourne Storm have done in the past when they were trying to get Ryan Papenhuyzen into the side before he established himself as one of the top fullbacks in the NRL.

It's a lip-licking proposition - unless you're a Far North Queenslander.

Savage comes into the 17 in place of Matt Frawley, while Hudson Young (toe) has been named on an extended bench after missing the loss to the Melbourne Storm.

That meant co-captain Elliott Whitehead was named in the second row for his 150^th NRL game since moving Down Under from the English Super League and fellow countryman Ryan Sutton kept his spot at lock.

Unlucky outside back Sebastian Kris was named as 18^th man, after finally completing his second stint of close-contact isolation.

Timoko was named in the centres, alongside Fijian behemoth Semi Valemei, despite copping a nasty knee to his back in Wagga Wagga on the weekend.

It forced him out of the game at half-time after he needed to be helped from the field during the break.

Storm winger Xavier Coates' knee hit him in the lower back when he was contesting a Cameron Munster kick with about nine minutes remaining in the half.

He trained freely on Tuesday morning before the team travelled to Cooma to attend the funeral of Raiders halfback Sam Williams' father Mark.

NRL ROUND SIX

Thursday: Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, 7.50pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Semi Valemei, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Brad Schneider, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joe Tapine, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Xavier Savage, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Adam Elliott, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 18. Sebastian Kris, 19. Hudson Young, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Albert Hopoate, 22. Jarrod Croker, 23. Trey Mooney, 24. Peter Hola.