Raiders chasing unique advantage in quest for drought-breaking title

The Raiders are determined to turn GIO Stadium into a fortress as they look to ride a wave of home support all the way to the NRL Grand Final. 

Canberra secured a top-two finish with last week's dramatic 'Miracle in Mudgee' golden-point win over the Panthers, but they have quickly turned their focus to the next goal. 

The Raiders can take another step towards their first minor premiership since 1990 with a win over the Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

The clash is their last home game of the regular season, but a win would give the side pole position for a rails run to the decider. 

Canberra have lost just one game at GIO Stadium this year, a 32-20 loss to the Bulldogs in Round 10, and they're determined to make the most of home-field advantage throughout the finals. 

Hooker Tom Starling was in the stands in 2019 as the Raiders beat South Sydney at the venue to book a place in the decider and revealed his side's desire to follow a similar path this season. 

"That's the goal," Starling told 94ddz.com. "We want a home prelim. We've had a really good winning record down here this year. The 2019 preliminary final here against Souths was crazy. 

"The place was rocking so we want to be able to do that twice down here. That's the goal. We want to get the minor premiership and then go from there. We've got to keep this train moving and it comes down to our focus over these next few weeks."

Starling is one of a small group of players remaining in the Raiders squad from the 2019 grand final. 

Canberra fell 14-8 to the Roosters in a controversial decider and have endured considerable roster turnover in the years since. 

Josh Papalii, Joe Tapine and Corey Horsburgh are the only players remaining who lined up in the grand final. Starling, Seb Kris and Hudson Young were members of the wider squad, with the hooker making his debut and featuring in three games during 2019. 

In a testament of how hard it is to make it to the decider, it is so far Papalii's only grand final in a decorated 15-year career. This season initially shaped as his final year in the NRL, but the veteran now has his sights set on at least one more campaign with the Raiders. 

Canberra progressed to the 2020 preliminary final, however the lack of home-field advantage made for a challenging trip to Brisbane to face the Storm. Melbourne ultimately prevailed 30-10. 

This season shapes as the Raiders' best chance to go one step further and return to the grand final. Starling said the squad is desperate to capitalise on a unique opportunity to snap a 31-year premiership drought.

"Our goal every year is to come in and win a comp, that's every team's goal," Starling said. "There's a lot of things that go into it and you don't get into this position too often so you've got to take the chances when you can. 

"That's been the chat around the boys. You never know when the next opportunity is going to come so we're making sure we're attacking each day and preparing to play grand finals and semi-final football. 

"Everyone wants to play in the big games and it's no different here. We're excited to be able to play in some meaningful games at the back end of the season."