Niukore expecting traffic, Paulo ready for Papalii

Makeshift centre Marata Niukore is expecting one of the NRL's best edges to send a mountain of traffic at him on Saturday night in Canberra. 

The versatile second-rower slotted in well at centre when Waqa Blake tore his calf in round two but was not expecting to still be running wide a month later.

"I probably thought my time was done there after maybe the Tigers game but obviously not," Niukore said.

"I think my first game I learned a lot and I've had a lot more time to practice out in the centres.

"I'm enjoying myself being out there and having Fergo (Blake Ferguson) outside me just giving me positive talks, I'm enjoying it.

"On the weekend me and Fergo were probably on different pages on [Jack] Bird's try but I know me and Fergo will work hard this week to make sure that doesn't happen again."

Niukore was expecting that channel to be fully tested by a Raiders left edge boasting Dally M winner Jack Wighton and veteran try-scoring duo Jordan Rapana and Jarrod Croker.

"They like to play fast footy and they like to shift the ball," Niukore said.

"It's a pretty handy edge; they've got Wighton, Croker, Rapana on the edge. They'll probably send a lot of traffic my way knowing I haven't been in that position long enough but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to."

That edge usually features Dylan Brown, who is one of the best defensive halves in the competition, but with Brown suspended for one game Will Smith will be lining up between Niukore and Shaun Lane.

"Will Smith's proved how good he is off the bench so nothing's going to change for Will when he comes on in the six jersey," Niukore said.

"All he needs to do is kick well for us and defend well with me and Fergo. He's a great defender, he'll hold his ground and I'll do my best to communicate with him and Fergo on the edge."

Eels prop Paulo laughed off suggestions there might be a bit extra in this Saturday's contest against a Raiders side that will feature 10 of his former Canberra teammates.

He insisted his main priority was bouncing back from getting out-muscled by an unheralded Dragons pack last Sunday.

"They're always going to be those games you don't like to lose, coming up against your former side, but I think for us it's more the challenge going up against a quality forward pack led by Josh Papalii," Paulo told NRL.com.

"I don't want to say too much! He's a good friend of mine but it's just going to be a good battle for us but we're just trying to build off the back of last week's disappointing loss.

"It would have been nice to get five on the trot but maybe it's a bit of a reality check for us, knowing that whoever we're playing, as long as we turn up with the right attitude and start well then I'm sure we'll give ourselves a chance of winning."

Paulo admitted the pride copped a bit of a dent against the Dragons at Bankwest in round five.

"We pride ourselves on being physical and starting well and we let ourselves down last week so this week we'll be looking to challenge ourselves going up against a formidable Raiders pack," he added.

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