The Canberra Raiders are desperate to avoid losing their first three home games for the first time in 23 years, prop Paul Vaughan adamant it's time to back up talk with action and rectify their poor record at Canberra Stadium.
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Canberra's inaugural 1982 side is the only Raiders team to lose its first three home clashes, which the current crop would match if they can't beat Melbourne Storm missing Billy Slater on Sunday.
After dropping the first two home games to the Warriors and Dragons, the Raiders' desire to turn their home ground into a fortress hasn't got off to a good start after winning only four games at Canberra Stadium last year.
This week is an ideal time to end the drought, with prop Dane Tilse to play his 200th game for Canberra in his final home match before departing for Hull KR after round seven.
Ironically, the Raiders avoided three straight home losses to begin last year when Vaughan sidestepped a number of Storm defenders to score a match-winning 79th minute try.
That round seven moment was the best of a forgettable season, but Vaughan insists he's moved on from those late heroics, even if his teammates won't let him.
"I haven't heard the end of it [the try] really, they've been into me for ages," Vaughan said.
"It was a good feeling for me but it was last year, it's a brand new year and it'd be nice to get another one.
"We talked before the season, we want to make it a fortress and we didn't get off to the start we wanted.
"We really need to win this game at home and get that feeling back in Canberra where teams don't want to come here."
The Storm have won 11 of their past 13 games in Canberra, but the loss of Australia and Queensland fullback Slater for a month boosts Canberra's chances.
The Raiders are confident after a dominant 29-16 win over Manly in Albury last week, a welcome morale boost after dropping their previous three games.
Melbourne has really struggled without Slater in recent seasons - winning just five of 20 matches without him, although a large number of those came when the Storm was also missing Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith through State of Origin.
Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker said not having their No.1 will take "a lot of punch out of the Melbourne team".
"You take Billy Slater out of any team and it's going to miss a little bit," he said.
"But they're such a well-drilled side, especially with (Cameron) Smith and (Cooper) Cronk there, I think whoever fills in at the back will be on-point."
Tilse has made a point of downplaying his milestone, where he will become just the 10th player to play 200 games for Canberra.
But Croker said it would be a significant source of motivation for his teammates.
"Tilsey's that sort of bloke who wants to play it down, [but] I know I'll be excited for him and the other 15 boys will be," Croker said.
"I know he won't want it to be about him but it's a big occasion whether he likes it or not, he's a great clubman and a great mate."
SUNDAY
NRL round six: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Canberra Stadium, 2pm
Tickets available from Ticketek
