Canberra's potent edge combinations played a big part in the Green Machine's rise to premiership contention.

But building on them has been impossible in the opening rounds with Croker out and second-rower Elliott Whitehead shifting out of position to cover him.

Stuart says Croker's return adds "comfort" to the entire squad and allows the Raiders to find the blend that steeled their premiership charge last year.

Croker has been sidelined for Canberra's back-to-back losses to start the season but has been named alongside Dave Taylor to play against Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

"It's nice to have your captain and a player back that has a lot of trust with the players around him," Stuart said.

"His abilities as a captain and a player will allow us to push Elliott back into the edge back-row and get back to a bit of normality.

"It's nice having players return from injury that give other players comfort. He gives the whole squad comfort in having his presence, and pushing Elliott back into his normal position.

"He's done a wonderful job, Elliott, for us in filling in at centre. His utility value has been a great quality of the squad and now having Jarrod back puts Elliott back into his normal position, gives us a little bit more normality towards our structure on the field."

While the Raiders skipper is expected to deal with a little bit of soreness in the coming weeks Canberra are confident Croker is fit and ready to go considering he made a late bid for a round two return.

Whitehead's return to the back-row will bolster Canberra's right-edge defence after it was exploited in a 42-16 thrashing at the hands of Cronulla.

Croker will return to left centre and take over the reins in guiding young gun Nick Cotric through the early stages of his NRL career.

The impact of having an experienced centre and genuine State of Origin hopeful inside Cotric cannot be understated as he continues a promising start in first grade.

Stuart says there will be plenty of ups and downs for Cotric throughout the season but they will be managed appropriately, and Croker seems the perfect man to help.

"[Cotric's] first full season of off-season training, his first full season of being in the top 25, he handled it so well off the field which is probably why he's replicating the ability on the field," Stuart said.

"But outside being a good footy player, he's a good young guy who has taken it in his stride.

"It's really nice to be involved with a young guy who is a local boy and is enjoying what he's doing, it's nice."

The anticipation for Croker's return is matched only by the hype surrounding new recruit Taylor, in whom Stuart has another big body to rotate through the middle.

Stuart admits it was an area of the game in which Canberra were beaten by the Sharks, who took advantage when props Shannon Boyd and Junior Paulo left the field.

"We took two big bodies off and didn't have anybody to replace them with," Stuart said.

"It was unfortunate from the bench that we were all a similar shape and size. It made it very hard for the boys.

"Having Sia [Soliola] go back to the bench, [Clay Priest] back from suspension, and Dave Taylor, gives us a different type of rotation to last week."

NRL ROUND THREE

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium, 4pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.

Raiders squad: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Nick Cotric, 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. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Luke Bateman. Interchange: 14. Adam Clydsdale, 15. Sia Soliola, 16. Clay Priest, 17. Dave Taylor. Reserves: 18. Jordan Turner, 19. Dunamis Lui, 20. Jeff Lima, 21. Scott Sorensen.

Tigers squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. David Nofoaluma, 3. Kevin Naiqama, 4. Michael Chee-Kam, 5. Moses Suli, 6. Mitchell Moses, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. Aaron Woods (c), 9. Matt McIlwrick, 10. Ava Seumanufagai, 11. Sausao Sue, 12. Chris Lawrence, 13. Elijah Taylor. Interchange: 14. Tim Grant, 15. Josh Aloiai, 16. Joel Edwards, 17. Jack Littlejohn. Reserves: 18. Junior Tatola, 19. Justin Hunt, 20. Kyle Lovett, 21. Matt Ballin.