In a further boost for the Green Machine, Dave Taylor and Kurt Baptiste are one step closer to resuming their NRL careers after both were named in the 19 to face Penrith at Bathurst on Saturday.

Fairfax Media can also reveal the Raiders have spoken to the NRL about taking games to the bush, with the Riverina one area they're looking at for next year.

The Raiders board announced in April they would look to extend Stuart's tenure for a further two years.

Discussions were ongoing, but Furner revealed it could be finalised before their bye following the Panthers game.

Stuart's contracted until the end of 2018 and while there were still some things to be finalised, it was looking positive.

"We should have some news on that in the next week or so," Furner said.

Baptiste was impressive in the Mounties win over Blacktown Workers in the NSW Cup after coming back from an Achilles injury he suffered during the pre-season.

He'll come in for Adam Clydsdale, while Taylor has only played two games for the Raiders - his last against Parramatta two months ago - having struggled with a niggling calf injury and a bout of chickenpox.

Bush footy is in the spotlight following the axing of City-Country Origin, which was played for the last time at Mudgee this year.

The Raiders-Penrith game will be the fourth time the Panthers have taken a home game to Bathurst and the second straight year they've hosted the Green Machine.

Furner has spoken to the NRL about the possibility of taking one of their home games to a country centre next season or in the future, with Wagga Wagga one possibility.

But they would need to get approval from the ACT government, due to their requirement to play all their home games at Canberra Stadium.

"We take a trial game to Queanbeyan, but it's not out of the realms [to take a game to the bush]. I'd have to talk to the stadium because we have some restrictions about taking games away," Furner said.

"We have discussed it. We have asked the NRL what would be the premise for it, what costs etcetera.

"I could see us taking a game to the Riverina, whether it's next year I don't know. We're not opposed to it at all. I think it would be great."

The Raiders looked into taking this season's home game against the New Zealand Warriors to Wellington, but decided against it when they drew the Warriors twice for the 2017 season.

It would've meant they had to cross the ditch twice this campaign, something they weren't willing to do.

They were given the government's blessing to do that for a number of reasons, including Canberra's sister-city relationship with the Kiwi capital and the introduction of direct international flights between Wellington and the ACT.

Furner said it was still an option going forward, but reassured fans they would only take a home game to either the bush or New Zealand - not both.

"We went over and met them when we went to the [Auckland] Nines. We flew down to Wellington and used the direct flight to see what it was like and met with Wellington Stadium," he said.

"They're keen, but again it all depends on the draw.

"It would be one or the other. I don't know that we would take two games away. I don't know that the stadium or the government would want that. I would guess it would be one or the other."

NRL ROUND 14

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers at Bathurst, 5.30pm. Live on Fox League.

Raiders team: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Sia Soliola, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Luke Bateman. Interchange from: 15. Royce Hunt, 16. Clay Priest, 17. Joe Tapine, 18. Scott Sorensen, 20. Dave Taylor, 21. Kurt Baptiste.

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Dean Whare, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak, 6. Matt Moylan, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Reagan Campbelle-Gillard, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Isaah Yeo, 13. Trent Merrin. Interchange from: 14. Tyrone Peachey, 15. Leilani Latu, 16. Tim Browne, 17. Viliame Kikau, 19. Sione Katoa, 21. Peta Hiku.