Roosters three-quarter Shaun Kenny-Dowall says the premiers have the attacking gunslingers to match the Raiders should they be spoiling for an offensive shoot-out in this Saturday's Round 12 clash at Allianz Stadium.
With the Roosters' attack clicking into gear in recent weeks after struggling for cohesiveness early in the year, the Tri-Colours now sit equal second behind the Eels for attacking potency with 22.2 points scored per game.
With the Roosters' attack clicking into gear in recent weeks after struggling for cohesiveness early in the year, the Tri-Colours now sit equal second behind the Eels for attacking potency with 22.2 points scored per game.
The Raiders themselves possess plenty of strike power, particularly on their left edge where Jarrad Croker and Reece Robinson have crossed the try line a combined 19 times so far this year, but Kenny-Dowall is confident the Roosters could handle a Raiders attack that will be riding high after their 42-12 thrashing of the Cowboys last weekend.
"[Canberra] are running some awesome plays, and they'll be full of confidence, but so are we so it should make for a pretty entertaining game," says Kenny-Dowall.
"They've got some very fast, very skilful guys out wider like Croker and Milford, but if we stick to our guns, our defensive structure and we defend to what we're capable of we should go a long way to stopping those big plays out there on the left.
"And then we've got a few options ourselves in attack, with Pearcey (halfback Mitch Pearce) and Jimmy (five-eighth James Maloney) running the show and in good form."
Enjoying the Roosters attacking revival more than most has been captain Anthony Minichiello, whose two tries against the Bulldogs last Friday night took his season tally to seven from 11 matches, already bettering the six tries he scored in 24 starts last year in the Chooks' championship season.
Four of those tries have come when Minichiello and right winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have pulled the switch move that sees the Kiwi international swap with his skipper in the custodian's role, and Kenny-Dowall says the 34-year-old fullback has been reminding his young teammate about his try-scoring prowess when he shifts into his position.
"Mini's scored a few out there on his wing and has been letting everyone else know about it, so Rog is spewing," laughs Kenny-Dowall, who lines up inside Tuivasa-Sheck on the Roosters right edge.
"But it's awesome to have Rog in that floating role and I think the more time he spends out in that fullback role the more dangerous he's going to be when they call the switch play.
"You just never know when he's going to strike.
"He's got that electric footwork that would worry the opposition and he can produce that any time of the game and with that play he gets to do it anywhere on the field and we definitely get confidence out of that move and what Roger can do."
Despite occupying 14th place on the NRL ladder and being the not-so-proud owners of the worst defensive record in the competition, the Roosters cannot afford to take the Raiders lightly given the calibre of sides the Canberra outfit's four wins have come against this year.
The Storm, Rabbitohs, Knights and Cowboys all played finals football in 2013 but have all been beaten by the struggling Green Machine this season, though Newcastle and North Queensland were both under strength at the time, and Kenny-Dowall says the Roosters are well aware of what the Raiders are capable of.
"They have been getting up for the big games, so we're definitely wary of that and we know they can put in a big performance when they need to.
"But sides have been getting up for us each week, so it'll be business as usual for us. We know every side's coming for us and we'll be ready for a big game."
