Fensom failed to prove his fitness at Monday's training session after he picked up a shoulder injury putting pressure on a Benji Marshall kick in last week's loss to St George Illawarra.

But Lima's return will add some much-needed experience to the greenest bench rotation in the NRL.

Lima has missed the last six games with a fractured hand he suffered in the round four loss to Gold Coast Titans.

However, the Raiders remain without fellow veteran Sia Soliola, despite the team's spiritual leader being cleared to return from a broken arm.

Soliola has remained in Canberra with his wife Gemmah, who is due to have the couple's second child this week.

Halfback Sam Williams has been named on an extended bench, but it is understood halves Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin are not in any doubt to play.

Young forward Luke Bateman has been named in the starting side for the first time in place of Fensom at lock.

The 21-year-old has played the majority of his pre-NRL career in the No.13 jersey and has played in the front row for the Raiders this year.

The loss of the hard working Fensom is a huge blow for Canberra, who are looking to snap a two-game losing streak.

But Lima's return is vital as it will ensure the Raiders have a forward leader on the field when coach Ricky Stuart turns to his bench.

The impact of Soliola and Lima midway through games in the early rounds was a huge advantage for the Raiders.

Young forwards Bateman and Joseph Tapine have been strong in their absence but the team has missed the composure provided by the veterans in recent close losses to the Dragons and Panthers.

Lima has played a "super sub" role late in games, averaging 117 metres a game in limited minutes before his injury.

Statistics show the Raiders have fielded one of the NRL's most inexperienced benches in recent weeks.

In round 10 last week only the Brisbane Broncos had a less experienced bench, with their four interchange players boasting just 54 games between them after Sam Thaiday's forced promotion to the starting side.

The Raiders bench in Thursday's 16-12 golden point loss to the Dragons at Kogarah – Kurt Baptiste, Bateman, Tapine and Clay Priest – had just 74 NRL caps.

The next least experienced was Melbourne with 150 and all bar three teams had at least one player with more games than the Raiders bench combined.

Warriors centre Solomone Kata will miss Saturday's clash after being suspended for a dangerous tackle on Penrith's Jamie Soward.

Kata took the early guilty plea for his hit on the Panthers playmaker. However, his 68 carryover points from a previous charge meant he still copped a one-match ban.

Former Raider Matt Allwood has been preferred over the out of favour Konrad Hurrell to replace Kato at centre, while lock Simon Mannering returns from a two-match absence with a facial injury.

"We've missed him a bit. He does a lot around the ruck and his leadership is excellent as well," Warriors assistant coach Justin Morgan said of Mannering.

"It was a pretty hefty cut he had to his lip and they wanted to be a bit cautious in his return."

Hooker Issac Luke also returns to the starting line-up after being dumped to the bench due to poor form in his first season at the Warriors.

"Last week he got back some form, his defence was a bit more consistent at times and we need him to run from dummy half a lot more," Morgan said.

Raiders team: 1. Jack Wighton 2. Edrick Lee 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joey Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Shannon Boyd 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Luke Bateman 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Jeff Lima 16. Clay Priest 17. Joseph Tapine 18. Sam Williams 19. Frank-Paul Nuuausala

SATURDAY: New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders, 5.30pm at Yarrow Stadium New Plymouth. TV time: Live on Fox Sports.