Canberra players have addressed their slow starts knowing any further sluggishness could mean curtains for their NRL season against the Sydney Roosters.

The Raiders have routinely found themselves behind early in matches this year, best evidenced by their 14-6 deficit to Cronulla in Saturday’s elimination final.

But the issue goes well beyond that headed into Saturday night’s do-or-die semi-final.

The Raiders conceded the first try in eight games straight between rounds 12 and 19.

“It’s no secret we have addressed our start, especially from last week’s game,” veteran Sia Soliola said on Tuesday.

“We’ll come in today and come up with a plan and see how we can improve on it.

“Obviously there are little minor details in there we can fix up collectively.

“There were probably moments there as a group we should have been better, in terms of what we require from the group with expectation.

“We have to be better now, or that’s our season. There is marginal, if any room, for error. We have to get it right.”

There is at least some feeling within the Raiders that they would rather be starting poor and finishing strong rather than the other way around.

It was only two years ago that the Raiders lost eight games they led with 20 minutes to go, earning the reputation as the NRL’s faders.

This year at least they are a team that back themselves to fight back from anywhere, having triumphed in five matches when trailing at halftime.

But still, they know a slow start won’t wash against a Roosters team desperate to keep their hopes of a three-peat alive.

Canberra’s record of 112-98 in the opening 20 minutes of matches this year is the worst of the remaining teams, while the Roosters’ 172-64 is the best.

“They’re all about starting fast at the Roosters, so we can’t be doing what we did on the weekend obviously,” captain Jarrod Croker said.

“We need to start a lot better this week.

“A real focus point for us is if it’s 0-0 or 6-0 or something real low scoring, then we know we are good enough to finish the game off.”