With only two wins from their past six matches, the Tigers need a win here against the Raiders especially when Penrith, Manly and Canterbury waiting for them in the upcoming month.

The Tigers enjoyed the bye last week after losing to Souths 32 – 10 when without the services of Origin starts Aaron Woods and Robbie Farah.

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Both players are back in this side for this week in what shapes as one of the strongest line-ups the Tigers have named all season.

The Tigers have leaked an average of 23 points in their past six games and it’s this aspect of their game that they’ll have to tighten up if they are to keep in touch with the top half of the competition.

Since returning from injury, Fullback James Tedesco has scored in both of the Tigers’ recent clashes, taking his season tally to six from just the seven appearances.

RAIDERS

The Canberra Raiders fell to their sixth loss from their past seven matches when defeated by the Bulldogs 22 – 14.

The Raiders had plenty in their favour leading into the match. They were playing a rare Friday night game at home, desperate for a win and met the Bulldogs, who had lost their previous three games, whilst still missing several key players from their side.

However, despite scoring first through Jarrod Croker – his eleventh for the season, and getting plenty of opportunities to improve on their score during the match, the Raiders were unable to penetrate the Bulldogs defence and only crossed once more, in the dying moments of the game.

Now into the second half of the season, if the Raiders are to salvage anything out of the 2014 season it has to start with a win here but given they’ve lost their last four on the road and their record against the Tigers is a dreadful one, hard to see how the Raiders will make the improvement required to come out on top.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Tigers have dominated the Raiders for several seasons now, having only lost once in ten games played since 2010.

Five of the past six matches have resulted in a total match score of 40 points or more – three of those games reaching at least 50.

On current stats and form, it’s hard to see anything but a Tigers. The winning margin of 11 – 20 might add a bit of value.

Teams:

TIGERS: James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Tim Simona, Chris Lawrence, Pat Richards, Braith Anasta, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (c), Keith Galloway, Curtis Sironen, Bodene Thompson, Adam Blair. Interchange: Sauaso Sue, Martin Taupau, Blake Austin, Ava Seumanufagai.

RAIDERS: Anthony Milford, Matt Allwood, Jarrod Croker, Jack Wighton, Brenko Lee, Terry Campese (C), Josh McCrone, David Shillington, Glen Buttriss, Brett White, Joel Edwards, Jarrad Kennedy, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Kyle O’Donnell, Paul Vaughan, Dane Tilse, Shannon Boyd.