Canberra star Elliott Whitehead has conceded the constant positional switching of players at the club has become frustrating.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has been forced to tinker with his NRL side as a result of being without injured captain Jarrod Croker and suspended fullback Jack Wighton.
Whitehead says he would prefer to play in the back row but will again sacrifice his favourite position if he is required in the centres against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
Nick Cotric, who burst into contention for a State of Origin debut as a winger, has slotted into the No.1 jersey in Wighton’s absence.
Stuart said after Sunday’s 22-20 loss to Wests Tigers that Wighton was as important to Canberra as retiring great Billy Slater is to Melbourne.
Joseph Leilua has been the one dependable in the centres, but Croker’s spot has been a revolving door with Blake Austin and Whitehead being used in his place.
The Raiders’ disastrous 0-4 start to the season can be partly contributed to being without star hooker Josh Hodgson as Siliva Havili found his feet at No.9.
“I’d prefer to play backrow but if he (Stuart) wants me to play centre then I will,” Whitehead said.
“A little bit frustrating for me. I feel like I was finding some good form in the back-row then I have to play a different position.
“If I have to do that for the team and that’s the best for the team then I’m willing to do that.”
Despite leading the competition for most points scored, the Raiders’ finals hopes are dead as they sit 10th on the ladder with a 8-13 record.
Whitehead says they will fight out the last three games of the campaign, starting with a home game against the ladder-leading Roosters.
“(The Roosters) are playing some good footy at the moment and they’re going to want to come down here and stay on top of the table,” Whitehead.
“For us we’ll at least try to knock them off and use it as a little bit of motivation to show everyone what we are capable of.”