Canberra hope Corey Harawira-Naera might return to some light training next week, little more than a week after the second-rower’s on-field seizure.

Raiders medical staff believe head trauma caused Harawira-Naera’s collapse during the NRL match against South Sydney, testing throughout the week finding two previous head knocks he’d taken shortly before his seizure could be the main reason.

Coach Ricky Stuart wouldn’t speculate on a potential return date for Harawira-Naera on Thursday, although he expected the 28-year-old would get into some “light training” next week.

It might prove an emotional boost for Raider players, who looked distraught watching their teammate receiving medical attention last Saturday night.

“From the testing, I think it’s more from the head trauma from two previous knocks,” Stuart said.

“He made quite a strong shot and got rattled a little bit some minutes beforehand, and then his head fell on the football when he got tackled on the ground.

“There was a fair bit of impact in that.”

It’s been speculated the Raiders will give Harawira-Naera at least a month off playing, Stuart stating he was “not really concerned” about a return to playing at this early stage.

“The football will come but we just need Corey back to (being) Corey – healthy and happy,” he said.

“We’re lucky he’s back on his feet and healthy again. It’ll take him a little bit of time to recover and we’ll give him as much time as possible.

“I spoke to him yesterday about when he could just get back to doing a little bit of physical activity, probably next week he can start doing a little bit of light training just to get back into normal routine.”

Stuart again praised the actions of South Sydney’s players and doctors for helping to look after Harawira-Naera in his time of need.

By Alex Mitchell in Canberra