And after admitting they perhaps fell victim to it last year, the Raiders are hell-bent on avoiding the same trap.

Aside from Queensland back rower Josh Papalii, Canberra will field a full strength line-up against Canterbury on Sunday, with Sia Soliola replacing Papalii in the starting side, Shaun Fensom back from a week out with a shoulder injury and Clay Priest dropping off the bench.

The Bulldogs will be without NSW forwards Josh Jackson and David Klemmer, but the Raiders have made a pact to approach fifth-placed Canterbury like they're at full strength.

Despite missing key players through Origin and captain James Graham, the Bulldogs ambushed the Raiders early in last year's corresponding fixture to take a 26-0 lead after just 18 minutes.

Canberra responded and drew level before a field goal from Josh Reynolds sealed a 41-34 win.

Hooker Kurt Baptiste said on Tuesday the Raiders hadn't prepared well mentally for that game, and learned a valuable lesson.

"We don't worry about who's in or out because I think we did that last year," Baptiste said.

"They had a lot of players out and they dusted us. I was watching it from the sidelines mostly but it was a real weird game, that one."

Jeff Lima returned from a broken hand in last week's win over the Warriors, while Soliola will return to face the team he broke his hand against in the round five win at Belmore.

Their experience will be crucial against a Bulldogs pack stacked with veterans. It will also present selection headaches for coach Ricky Stuart, given youngsters Luke Bateman and Joe Tapine are in good form.

Asked if the Origin period was a chance to bank some wins against depleted opposition, Stuart said, "If you play well".

"The whole competition is showing that it's not a matter of who you're throwing out there, it's how well they're playing.

"We've given some young guys an opportunity the last few weeks, Clay Priest is one of those and every time they grab their opportunity they're a chance of keeping their spot the next week."

During the Origin period the Raiders play in Brisbane on June 9, with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett expected to rest some stars given they play in Auckland five days earlier, just three days after Origin I.

Canberra host North Queensland without their Origin stars on June 11, two days before Origin III.

Saturday's 38-12 road win over the Warriors put the Raiders back in the top eight, and the next six weeks will play a huge role in whether they stay there, push for the top four or miss out altogether.

Raiders prop Paul Vaughan said the return of their spiritual leader Soliola meant they would lose nothing with Papalii unavailable.

"He's a pack leader here and he's got a lot of experience and he's a cool head in tough times out on the field," Vaughan said

"And Jeff Lima's impact and work rate are second to none, after 20-25 minutes he really keeps up that work rate."

Baptiste was a surprise starter against the Warriors in place of Dally M medal leader Josh Hodgson, who played from the bench.

Hodgson was named on Tuesday to start, but given the experiment worked well there could be a late change.

Baptiste's management is negotiating with the Raiders about a two-year deal, and is hopeful an agreement will be struck.

"I'm looking to hopefully stay. He [Stuart] told me he wanted me to stay at the club a couple of weeks ago," Baptiste said.

"I'm happy at the club at the moment, I feel like this team is going somewhere."

Raiders team to play Canterbury on Sunday at Canberra Stadium, 4pm: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Shannon Boyd, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Sia Soliola, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Shaun Fensom, 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Jeff Lima, 16. Luke Bateman, 17. Joe Tapine, 18. Clay Priest