The Canberra Raiders have received two big boosts as they look to make it four wins in a row against the Newcastle Knights on Saturday evening.
Jack Wighton has recovered from a rib injury that saw him miss last week’s win over Parramatta while Whitehead has overcome a shoulder injury that saw him miss the last three weeks.
Wighton replaces Matt Frawley at five-eighth with Whitehead slotting into the second row.
Ryan Sutton will miss 1-2 weeks with a chest injury, which sees Hudson Young shift from second row to lock.
Josh Papalii has been named to start in the front row despite being failing an HIA last week.
Matt Timoko has retained his spot on the bench with Dunamis Lui and Bailey Simonsson on the extended bench after overcoming injuries.
The Knights have brought back centre Bradman Best with David Klemmer returning from concussion on the bench.
They have named star halfback Mitchell Pearce on an extended bench and he could be a late inclusion if he recovers from his hamstring in time. Kalyn Ponga has been named but is in doubt with a sternum injury.
Raiders and Knights team lists
| Raiders | Knights | |
| Jordan Rapana | 1 | Kalyn Ponga |
| Harley Smith-Shields | 2 | Enari Tuala |
| Jarrod Croker | 3 | Kurt Mann |
| Seb Kris | 4 | Bradman Best |
| Semi Valemei | 5 | Hymel Hunt |
| Matt Frawley | 6 | Phoenix Crossland |
| Sam Williams | 7 | Jake Clifford |
| Josh Papalii | 8 | Jacob Saifiti |
| Josh Hodgson | 9 | Jayden Brailey |
| Emre Guler | 10 | Daniel Saifiti |
| Corey Harawira-Naera | 11 | Tyson Frizell |
| Eliott Whitehead | 12 | Mitchell Barnett |
| Hudson Young | 13 | Connor Watson |
| Bench | Bench | |
| Tom Starling | 14 | Sauaso Sue |
| Matt Timoko | 15 | David Klemmer |
| Sia Soliola | 16 | Josh King |
| Joe Tapine | 17 | Brodie Jones |
| Reserves | Reserves | |
| Matt Frawley | 18 | Jirah Momoisea |
| Ryan James | 19 | Simi Sasagi |
| Bailey Simonsson | 20 | Tex Hoy |
| Dunamis Lui | 21 | Mitchell Pearce |
