The ACT government's proposed Civic Stadium, where that synthetic pitch could be laid, isn't the only thing back on the agenda with the Raiders investigating a community model to help build their $19 million headquarters at Braddon.

The Green Machine were hoping for a massive home crowd when they host Manly at Canberra Stadium on Friday night, especially given they will have just one home game in the following eight weeks.

A combination of away games and byes means they will host the Sydney Roosters in round 12 on May 28 before the Brisbane Broncos come to Canberra on June 24.

Fairfax Media revealed last week chief minister Andrew Barr was looking into an artificial surface for the proposed $350 million rectangular venue.

Like the ACT Brumbies, Furner said he was open to the idea of a synthetic pitch, but at the end of the day it would need to be approved by rugby league's governing body, the NRL, before they'd be allowed to play on it.

At the height of last decade's drought, the Raiders looked into converting their training pitch at their current Bruce headquarters into an artificial surface - as well as the ground at West Belconnen - but the drought broke and they canned the idea.

While he was open to it, Furner admitted it would be a massive step to switch to a fake pitch - given it would make them the first major professional league in Australia to do so.

"Certainly we'd consider it ... but we couldn't do it if it wasn't approved by the NRL because no team would come down and play us," he said.

"The whole thing with synthetic pitches is no professional sport in Australia does it - not soccer, not AFL, not league, not union - so it's a big jump."

Furner said technology further muddied the waters around an artificial surface.

With the government hopeful of having the Civic Stadium completed about 2025, technological advancement in the type of surface used could make it a much more attractive option than it currently is.

There's a general feeling artificial surfaces lead to more injuries, fuelling the reluctance for top-level sport to use them.

The women's soccer World Cup in Canada in 2015 was played on artificial pitches, sparking concerns FIFA weren't showing the women the same respect they show the men.

"Who knows what the technology will be for that type of synthetic surface, it could be a lot better than it is now," Furner said.

"It may well be the way things go, who knows, but you're talking five or six years down the track."

Furner has met with the government in regards to their proposed development of Northbourne Oval.

He said they were investigating using a community model to help make the project feasible.

Given they don't own their current headquarters at Bruce, which they lease off the government, they want to establish a centre of excellence on the land they own in Braddon instead.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart told Fairfax Media last year the Green Machine risks falling behind their NRL rivals if the development doesn't go ahead.

The Raiders missed out on $9 million in federal government funding they needed to get the project off the ground.

Gold Coast moved into a new state-of-the-art facility late last year, which houses altitude chambers, hydrotherapy baths, a swimming pool and gymnasium.

On top of those types of training facilities, the Raiders would also look at being able to accommodate community groups to use their base as well.

"We need to build this community model and we're speaking to some community groups about partnering us for there," Furner said.

"There's a lot of community models for a lot of centres with a lot of AFL clubs and sporting groups.

"There's community use of the facility. We do a lot of community programs so you'd deliver those programs in-house - you use the office space, you use the meeting rooms, you have the facilities available for community use."

NRL ROUND EIGHT

Friday: Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium, 6pm. 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. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Adam Clydsdale, 15. Luke Bateman, 16. Dunamis Lui, 17. Sia Soliola. Reserves: 18. Dave Taylor, 19. Jordan Turner, 20. Makahesi Makatoa, 21. Lachlan Croker

Sea Eagles squad: 1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Dylan Walker, 4. Brian Kelly, 5. Akuila Uate, 6. Blake Green, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (C), 8. Brenton Lawrence, 9. Apisai Korisau, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Frank Winterstein, 12 Curtis Sironen, 13. Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14. Lewis Brown, 15. Jackson Hastings, 16. Darcy Lussick, 17. Addin Fonua-Blake. Reserves: 18. Nate Myles, 19. Cameron Cullen, 20. Matthew Wright, 21. Shaun Lane

*The Canberra Raiders are urging the bosses to let staff off early this Friday afternoon so they can catch the kick-off with the #FridayFreePass. Click here to get yours.