The Raiders will get a chance to test their premiership credentials in the opening two weeks of the season when they play against the last two NRL champions in a brutal start to their campaign.

But despite finishing second at the end of the 2016 regular season and igniting lime green passion, they will have to wait until round three for their first Channel Nine game.

Features of the Raiders draw are:

• Starting their season against the Cowboys and Sharks in back-to-back weeks
• Channel Nine games in rounds three, four, 12 and 19
• Two Friday night games at Canberra Stadium (against Manly on April 21 and St George Illawarra on July 14)
• Playing twice against the Sharks, Manly, Storm, Cowboys, Eels and Broncos.

In a sign that NRL and broadcast officials have taken notice of the Raiders, they will play four games on Channel Nine between rounds three to 19.

Their first is against the Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium on March 19. They will also play the Sydney Roosters on a Sunday afternoon in the capital and the St George Illawarra Dragons on Friday July 14.

The NRL will publish its draw for the 2017 season on Thursday but the Raiders round one and two opponents have been locked in as the North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks.

The 2015 champion Cowboys and 2016 premiers Sharks will give Ricky Stuart's men a chance to prove themselves as they start in Townsville before returning to Canberra to play Cronulla.

It will also give Raiders fans a chance to have an early crack at the Sharks after the visitors mocked the Viking Clap when they beat the Raiders in the opening week of the finals this year.

The Sharks toppled the Raiders 16-14 in a tense qualifying final at Canberra Stadium in September before Michael Ennis rubbed Green Machine noses in it after full-time.

Ennis retired after the Sharks beat the Melbourne Storm to win their first NRL title, but Raiders fans have long memories and the week-two clash is a perfect way to kick-start the year at home.

The Raiders have returned to pre-season training as they begin their mission to go one step better than they did in a record-breaking 2016 campaign.

The Raiders season this year was the club's best since 1995, but they suffered heartbreak when they were knocked out of the title race by the Storm in a preliminary final.

2017 NRL season

Round one (March 4): North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders at Townsville, 6pm.

Round two (March 11): Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium, 7.30pm.

Round three (March 19): Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium, 4pm.

Round four (March 24): Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders at Brisbane, 7.05pm.

Round five (April 1): Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels at Canberra Stadium, 5.30pm.

Round six (April 8): Gold Coast Titans v Canberra Raiders at Gold Coast, 5.30pm.

Round seven (April 15): Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium, 5.30pm.

Round eight (April 21): Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium, 6pm.

Round nine (April 29): Canterbury Bulldogs v Canberra Raiders at Sydney, 5.30pm.

Round 10 (May 14): Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders at Newcastle, 2pm.

Round 11 (May 20): Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders at Sydney, 7.30pm.

Round 12 (May 28): Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Canberra Stadium, 4pm.

Round 13 (June 4): Manly Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders at Sydney, 2pm.

Round 14 (June 10): Penrith Panthers v Canberra Raiders at Sydney, 5.30pm.

Round 15: BYE

Round 16 (June 24): Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium, 5.30pm.

Round 17 (July 1): Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, 7.30pm.

Round 18: BYE

Round 19 (July 14): Canberra Raiders v St George Illawarra Dragons at Canberra Stadium, 7.50pm.

Round 20 (July 22): Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Canberra Stadium, 5.30pm.

Rounds 21: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canberra Raiders at Sydney, TBC

Round 22: Cronulla Sharks v Canberra Raiders at Sydney TBC

Round 23: New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders at Auckland, TBC

Round 24: Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers at Canberra Stadium, TBC

Round 25: Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights at Canberra Stadium, TBC

Round 26: Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders at Melbourne, TBC