Lima, who turned 34 on July 4, is on the verge of re-signing for another year and, while several fellow old stagers will call it quits at the end of the season, he doesn't see a finish line yet.

Only Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen will be older than Lima next year with Newcastle's Jeremy Smith (36), Gold Coast's Nathan Friend (35), Manly's Jamie Lyon (34) and Brisbane's Corey Parker (34) to hang up their boots, while Shark Chris Heighington (34) is tipped to move to Super League.

Warrior Ali Lauitiiti (37) is the NRL's current elder statesman, but is only on a second-tier deal and is probably unlikely to play on next year.

The veteran exodus promotes Lima toward the top of the age tree but the former New Zealand international hasn't ruled out the possibility of playing on after next year if his body and desire hold up.

Lima has endured a frustrating injury run this year, but has defied his age by making a huge impact from the bench in the early rounds.

"You never say never," Lima said. "As long as you're still loving the game ['ll keep playing] until the day I wake up and say I can't do it any more."

Despite his stop-start season, Lima hasn't lost any faith his body can handle another year in the NRL.

"I spoke to the coach [Ricky Stuart] a few weeks ago and he wanted me to come back next year," Lima said. "At this stage my manager's looking after that stuff.

"There's no self doubt, I'm confident in my ability and, when my body says enough's enough, I'll call time.

"But at the moment I still feel 21. I've just been unlucky with injuries."

While injuries have reduced him to just six games, Lima's off-field impact has been immeasurable, particularly with young forwards such as Joseph Tapine, Shannon Boyd and Luke Bateman.

The thing is, their form may make it tough for Lima to break back into the top side for next Saturday's home clash against the New Zealand Warriors when he returns from a hip injury.

It's a similar situation across the whole squad and has the fifth-placed Raiders well poised to make finals for the first time since 2012.

Lima was a mainstay of Melbourne's heavyweight teams but believes Canberra's squad isn't as reliant on superstars to succeed.

Identifying the Storm's key players is easy: Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. But with the Raiders it's hard to pinpoint a talisman.

"I've played in some good teams but this team, across the board, everyone's talented, not just a couple of boys," Lima said.

"That's the good thing about it. We don't rely on one person, we rely on everyone to do their job.

"We've got a good opportunity ahead of us. There's still a lot of improvement in our team and anyone can turn up on the day and win the grand final.

"The top four teams get in the grind and complete [sets]. They don't give much away. If we give away errors and penalties against them, they'll make you pay.

"It's always good to get a top-four spot but we've got another eight weeks before that. It's a long way ahead."

"I help the young boys whether I'm injured or not. Just [helping them] to get in good habits preparing for games, what to do when they make a mistake on the field, things like that.

"They're good young fellas and they listen and are willing to learn."

While Lima looks set to return next year, it seems likely young centre Brenko Lee will ply his trade elsewhere after struggling to secure a permanent spot in Canberra's dynamic back five.

Lee has been solid in five games this year when filling in for injuries, but Canberra has one of the NRL's best centre combinations in Jarrod Croker and Joey Leilua.

There are also huge raps on young outside back Nic Cotric, the 17-year-old chosen at fullback for the Australian Schoolboys this week.

"I think it's touch and go [with Brenko]," Raiders recruitment boss Peter Mulholland said on ABC Radio on Saturday.

"Brenko's a young guy who understands his career path is probably a bit blocked where we are [positioned].

"We've got a pretty stable back five with the two centres playing as well as they have and two very good wingers in Edrick [Lee] and Jordan Rapana, and behind him is young Nic Cotric.

"What you try to do is look at succession planning and, say are we holding Brenko back, is the offer he's been made at other clubs commensurate to what we should be giving him here when we've got another player behind him, and two ahead of him."

In-form bench hooker Kurt Baptiste, sidelined with a foot injury, is also on the brink of agreeing to a new deal with the Raiders.

"We're in the final stages of negotiation with his manager," Mulholland said. "He's been tremendous throughout the year for us."

SATURDAY

NRL round 20: Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium, 3pm

Tickets available from Ticketek

TV: Live on Fox Sports 1