While everyone else's mouths were agape in shock after Jordan Rapana's match-winner against Newcastle on Sunday, Leilua predicted it.

It didn't unfold exactly as he imagined with Rapana, who left the field with a shoulder problem earlier, chasing down a missed Blake Austin field goal to score his golden-point try.

But he had an inkling his partner in crime on the right edge would deliver.

"I couldn't believe it, I thought he was crying wolf but he got back out there and scored the winning try for us.

"The funny thing was I told him he was going to win us the game, [but] I thought I was going to pass him the ball to score."

Asked if Rapana's determination to play through pain lifted the team, Leilua said: "I was too tired to even think about that, [but] when Rapa came back on it gave inspiration for the whole team."

The comeback win has reignited the Raiders' top four hopes, and they can move within a point of third-placed North Queensland if they beat the Cowboys in Canberra on Monday night.

North Queensland will be without several stars through Origin duty, while the Raiders will be without only Josh Papalii (hip) and Edrick Lee (hamstring).

Prop Shannon Boyd (knee) and Rapana were both named despite picking up injuries against the Knights, but remain in doubt.

Sia Soliola replaced Papalii in the starting back row after a week out with rib and shoulder injuries, with Clay Priest back in the side on the bench after Luke Bateman accepted a one-week ban for a crusher tackle on Newcastle's Daniel Saifiti.

Prop Junior Paulo returns to the starting side after having a huge impact off the bench the past fortnight.

The Cowboys pack is also weakened by the absence of Matt Scott, James Tamou and Gavin Cooper through Origin.

The mid-season acquisition of Paulo from Parramatta and Joe Tapine's arrival from Newcastle a year earlier than planned has proven a godsend for Canberra.

Their comeback from 22-0 against the struggling Knights has reinforced to the Raiders that no one can be underestimated.

"They've lost a lot of high-calibre players to Origin, but having said that there's no easy game of football," Paulo said.

"It's going to be a tough one against the reigning premiers, we can't take them lightly at all."

Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker insisted the Cowboys still have plenty of strike power to cause problems.

"I know they'll talk about having their players out, but there's fantastic players in there like Jason Taumalolo and Lachlan Coote in career-best form," Croker said.

"People are going to say we did [take Knights lightly] at 22-0 [down] but they played good footy and ambushed us."

The Raiders are now a point outside the top four and with an understrength Cowboys (home), the bye and the Warriors (home) to come, have a huge chance to press for a double chance in the finals.

"It's obviously a goal. When you mention that it's an important two points [against Newcastle] because it's that close.

"I think we can be a top-four team, it's about improving each week for us.

"We haven't peaked yet and certainly haven't put together 80 minutes of football."

Former Queanbeyan Blues hooker and Bungendore Tigers junior Josh Chudleigh will make his NRL debut off the bench against the Raiders.

The 22-year-old played for Canberra in the SG Ball under-18 grand final in 2012.

MONDAY

NRL round 18: Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, 7pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. TV: Live on Fox Sports 1.

RAIDERS: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Brenko Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Sia Soliola, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Shaun Fensom, 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Clay Priest, 16. Paul Vaughan, 17. Joe Tapine.