NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley once again snubbed Croker for next week's Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium, instead opting to fill his backline with a raft of fullbacks.

Josh Papalii is the only Raider who will play in the cauldron, with Queensland coach Kevin Walters giving him his first Origin start in the second row.

But Croker, fellow Canberra centre Joey Leilua and props Shannon Boyd and Junior Paulo were all overlooked for the big stage.

That's despite Croker becoming the fourth youngest ever to play 200 NRL games, having already broken the Raiders' point-scoring record and on track to hold the try-scoring record as well.

But Soliola said it wouldn't be long before the 26-year-old makes it to Origin.

"You know what Jarrod's like, he's not focused on that, he's focused on the Raiders and trying to improve week-in, week-out," he said.

"One day it's going to turn for him, but he's always just been consistent - humble, steady and he's been a great captain for us as well.

"He really adds a bit of composure to our team ... it makes us feel comfortable having him in the squad."

With Papalii in Queensland's Origin camp, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has named Joe Tapine in his place on the left edge with Sia Soliola coming into the starting line-up at lock to face the Sydney Roosters at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

Luke Bateman missed last week due to concussion, but has been named on the bench as the Raiders look for their second straight win after breaking a three-game losing streak against Parramatta on the weekend.

The Roosters have had to make a host of changes having lost five players to Origin - including co-captain Boyd Cordner and halfback Mitchell Pearce.

Mitchell Aubusson has moved from the second row into the centres, Connor Watson has come into five-eighth, prop Kane Evans will start, with Ryan Matterson and Zane Tetevano coming into the back row.

Soliola said the Raiders couldn't afford to take the Roosters lightly, questioning his team's psychological approach in the lead-up to their three losses against Manly, Canterbury and Newcastle.

"A lot of people were tipping us for the three games we lost. Whether that's a psychological side of how we approach the games or them in terms of how they turned up," Soliola said.

"The Roosters are always a good side driven by their big leader, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, and Kane Evans, who have been doing a really good job for them.

"Of course they lose a little bit of experience, but what they lose they'll definitely gain in energy with the guys coming in."

It was a sentiment shared by Raiders fullback Jack Wighton, who announced on Tuesday he'd re-signed with the club until the end of 2020.

Like Soliola and forward Joe Tapine, Wighton was wary of the energy the Roosters replacements would bring to the fourth-placed side.

He felt they could actually be more dangerous without their stars - a case of better the devil you know.

"The Roosters are a very well-drilled team. Whether they've got their players or don't have their players, it's going to be a really tough game so we'll be going in there full guns blazing," Wighton said.

"I think that players that come in and get a chance are more dangerous.

"We don't know what they're going to offer and everyone that gets the opportunity are going to come in full of energy and ready to go so we know we're going to be facing a dangerous team this weekend."

NRL ROUND 12

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters 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. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Sia Soliola. Interchange: 14. Adam Clydsdale, 15. Luke Bateman, 16. Clay Priest, 17. Dunamis Lui. Reserves: 18. Dave Taylor, 19. Scott Sorensen, 20. Brent Naden, 21. Lachlan Croker.

Roosters squad: 1. Michael Gordon, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Mitchell Aubusson, 5. Joseph Manu, 6. Connor Watson, 7. Luke Keary, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Jake Friend (c), 10. Kane Evans, 11. Ryan Matterson, 12. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 13. Zane Tetevano. Interchange: 14. Isaac Liu, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Chris Smith, 17. Mitchell Cornish. Reserves: 18. Nat Butcher, 19. Victor Radley, 20. Eloni Vunakece, 21. Brock Gray.