On top of that, the Green Machine weren't allowed to withdraw players from last year's City-Country clash - despite having a tougher 2016 schedule than the Bulldogs have this year.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was left "gobsmacked" when he found out about Canterbury's special treatment.

It's not surprising given what Canberra was forced to go through last campaign.

The Raiders had four players involved in last year's City-Country, but that number could balloon this season especially given no Bulldogs players will be involved.

Jack Wighton, Nick Cotric, Jarrod Croker, Shannon Boyd and Luke Bateman could all get picked for Country, while Joey Leilua, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer and Junior Paulo could run out for City.

Plus Jordan Rapana and Joe Tapine are in the mix to line up for New Zealand in the Anzac Test, while Josh Papalii was picked on the Kangaroos bench with Boyd as 18th man.

England duo Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead will play against Samoa - the team Sia Soliola could represent.

The Raiders had exactly the same schedule as Canterbury do this season, except harder.

They travelled to Penrith eight days before City-Country in Tamworth and then went to Sydney to play St George Illawarra four days after the rep game.

In contrast, the Bulldogs have home games either side of this year's City-Country in Mudgee on Sunday week.

"I was quite amazed at the stance that has been taken there because we were in exactly the same circumstances last season with a four-day turnaround where we had to travel away to play," Stuart said.

"We had to play the Dragons and both teams were made to play their players. I'm really gobsmacked in regards to what's taken place here."

How the Raiders players get through the game against Canterbury will determine whether they're available to play City-Country.

"I'll wait and see who's picked and see if they're healthy," Stuart said.

He was happy for the two Raiders players named in coach Mal Meninga's Kangaroos squad and said Papalii had been one of the form back rowers in the NRL.

Meninga overlooked both Canberra centres, Croker and Leilua, despite the pair having better statistics than the two players picked.

Croker has three tries and one try assist so far this season, putting him on a par with Melbourne Storm centre Will Chambers (one try, four assists), who was named at left centre and has played one more game.

But Chambers has made nine errors to the ever-consistent Crokers' four.

Dragons fullback Josh Dugan will play right centre, but has scored just two tries and has no assists compared with Leilua's six and three.

Raiders veteran Sia Soliola, who has played 15 Tests for New Zealand and Samoa, thought Croker should've been there.

"He's done amazing things for this club. I'm not too sure [what he has to do], he's done some awesome things," he said.

"I'd really like to see him in the green and gold in the coming weeks and I think he's done a handful for what he needs to do to achieve that green and gold. Not just this year, but last year as well.

"He's been outstanding. People have questioned his defence, but I think he's proven this whole season he's been really solid on that left side. I really feel for our captain and I think he should be in there."

NRL ROUND NINE

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm. Live on Fox League.

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. Clay Priest, 17. Sia Soliola. Reserves: 18. Dunamis Lui, 19. Scott Sorensen, 20. Makahesi Makatoa, 21. Lachlan Croker.

Bulldogs squad: 1. Brett Morris, 2. Kerrod Holland, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Brenko Lee, 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Moses Mbye, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Michael Lichaa, 10. James Graham (c), 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Greg Eastwood, 13. David Klemmer. Interchange: 14. Sam Kasiano, 15. Danny Fualalo, 16. Adam Elliott, 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner. Reserves: 19. Francis Tualai, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Reimis Smith, 23. Will Hopoate.

ANZAC TEST

May 5: Australia Kangaroos v New Zealand Kiwis at Canberra Stadium, 8pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.

Kangaroos squad: 1. Darius Boyd, 2. Blake Ferguson, 3. Josh Dugan, 4. Will Chambers, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. David Klemmer, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Trent Merrin. Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Josh Papalii, 16. Tyson Frizell, 17. Sam Thaiday. Reserves: 18. Shannon Boyd, 19. James Maloney, 20. Justin O'Neill.