Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium, Saturday 5.30pm

Head to head: Raiders 10 Tigers 17

Last time: Round 16 – Tigers 19 bt Raiders 18 at Campbelltown Stadium

Ladbrokes: Raiders $1.42, Tigers $2.95

Betfair: Raiders $1.46, Tigers $2.80

Michael Chammas writes: Luke Brooks is out for the Tigers in what will be a dour affair in the nation's capital. It's hard to tip a winner, but the Raiders should be too strong at home. Anthony Milford should have a field day against a weak defensive side.

Tip: Raiders by 14

AAP writes: After possibly the worst half of NRL this year, the Raiders finally managed to muster up some second half form to jag a much needed win over the hapless Sharks last week. They've named just one change, with Mitch Cornish handed his first start at halfback, pushing Josh McCrone to the bench. Despite such a promising beginning to 2014, the Tigers have well and truly bombed out and have now lost five straight. They'll welcome back Pat Richards on the wing, with Cory Paterson shifting to the centres. The bad news is that Luke Brooks is out, with Mitch Moses moving to halfback and Blake Austin to five-eighth.

Key: Anthony Milford. Two tries and two assists in the second half against the Sharks all but ensured the Raiders won't finish with the wooden spoon. Every week he's looking more and more dangerous at five-eighth.

There are a couple of changes for the Tigers today. Asipeli Fine replaces Cory Paterson in the centers, while Brendan Santi will take jack Buchanan's place on the bench.

The Raiders are unchanged.

This is certainly a battle of the young guns. The Raiders have an average age of 21, the Tigers just 22.

Should be an exciting battle between the two respective Mitch's. Canberra's Mitch Cornish gets his first start in the halves, while Mitch Moses lines up directly against him.

And we're underway at Canberra Stadium.

1min: The Tigers can't complete their opening set, Adam Blair spilling it cold. Good attacking opportunity for the Raiders here early. Scrum 45m out.

2min: That's the value of a good kicking game. Mitch Cornish kicks across field and hits the spot perfectly, batted back by Edrick Lee who shifts it to Josh Papalii and then Bill Tupou for the try in the corner. What a start from the home team and a confidence booster for young Cornish. Jarrod Croker converts from out wide, his 300th goal for the Raiders. Raiders lead 6-0.

5min: The Raiders look like they've reshuffled their backline. Edrick Lee has shifted to the centres, with rookie Jeremy Hawkins pushed to the wing.

6min: Enterprising play from the Tigers, Chris Lawrence flirting with the sideline. But the play breaks down as he throws it inside, refs calling it forward.

8min: Great run by Raiders prop Dane Tilse. Followed up the next tackle by a dud kick from hooker Glen Buttriss.

9min: Jeremy Hawkins' mum called him during the week from New Zealand to tell him to get a haircut, having watched his debut on TV last weekend. I don't think she expected a full head shave with a rats tail.

11min: Sooooo close for the Raiders. Anthony Milford showns great vision to kick wide for an unmarked Bill Tupou, but the ball lands on it's point and rolls quickly over the deadball line before Tupou can get there.

13min: Raiders give away a 5th tackle penalty on their own line. This will have to be a big defensive set.

14min: The Raiders are up to the task. Bodene Thompson spills the beans, trying to push the pass. The Tigers fumble, the Raiders hold on.

16min: The two Mitch's got tangled there. Mitch Cornish took down Mitch Moses, but then Moses loses the pill in the play-the-ball with Cornish hanging all over him.

17min: Last week Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said Canberra would have lost to Cronulla without Dane Tilse. He was perhaps gilding the lilly a little bit. But the big prop has definitely been one of the standouts to start this match. He's in everything.

19min: The Raiders are all over Robbie Farah, giving him no space from dummy-half. And there's another simple error by the Tigers - that's 5-0 handling errors against the Tigers.

21min: good little grubber by Mitch Cornish, followed up by a crunching tackle from Jack Wighton which pins the Tigers to their line. Raiders have the upperhand so far, but still only lead 6-0.

23min: That was some good play by the Raiders. Milford takes on the line, oflloads to Edrick Lee, who tries to fling an inside ball to an unmarked Buttriss. Buttriss picks it up on the fly and goes over ... but last pass is forward. No try.

24min: How quickly things can change. Tigers on the attack after a 40-20 from farah. But how things stay the same ... another handling error from the Tigers relieves the pressure on the Raiders.

27min: this time soooooo close for the Tigers. Mitch Moses shows vision to kick wide for unmarked winger Sitaleki Akauola, but it beats him into touch. Execution has let both teams down on that tactic.

28min: Interesting that Josh McCrone has come on for the Raiders, as a replacement for hooker Buttriss. This time last week McCrone was starting halfback and captain. Impact role off the bench probably suits him better

30min: What a run from Blake Austion for the Tigers. He's ankle-tapped by Papalii, regathers his feet, beats McCrone, steps Wighton. He gets a quick play-the-ball, but the Tigers drop it again. Wow, they're gifting this game to the Raiders so far.