Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson is viewing a clash with NRL premiership favourites Melbourne this Thursday as the perfect opportunity for the Raiders to prove their finals credentials.

A 20-12 win over St George Illawarra last Friday means Ricky Stuart’s team are inside the top eight for the first time since round 10 with just four matches to play in the home-and-away campaign.

Staying in the playoff picture is going to be a mammoth task for the Raiders however with the Storm coming in on a club record 17-game winning run after their victory over Manly last Saturday.

With the Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters still to play in their run home, Canberra will have done it the hard way if they can end the regular season in a finals position.

“It’s in our own hands now. We’re in the eight so we’ve just got to make sure that we get these results to stay in it,” Hodgson said.

“We have got a tough draw on the way in but you’ve got to beat the best if you want to be the best. If we don’t beat them and we don’t get in the eight, it’s only our own doing.

“No better time to play them I reckon … give yourself a real challenge heading into the semis. It’s essential for that semi-final intensity.”

The win over the Dragons means the Raiders have now won four of their past five matches.

The English international believes a backs-to-the-wall mentality has played a key role in the team’s form reversal after losing nine of 11 matches before their latest run.

Having reached a grand final in 2019 and a preliminary final last year, Hodgson is backing the Raiders’ experience to get them past their tough run home and into this year’s playoff picture.

“In previous years we always seem to really get up for the big games,” he said.

“We’re still striving for that consistency this year … but when you play the good teams you certainly have to go to another level and we usually do that.”

AAP