Now George Williams has to earn his stripes after he was named in the Canberra Raiders team for the first time on Tuesday.

Williams will partner Jack Wighton in the halves in the Green Machine's season opener against the Gold Coast Titans at Canberra Stadium on Friday.

Curtis Scott will also make his Raiders debut, with Corey Horsburgh named in the second row as expected.

Veteran outside back Michael Oldfield has been named as the utility on Canberra's bench, with Siliva Havili able to play either at hooker or lock.

The Titans didn't name ex-Raider Shannon Boyd, with new Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook also opting to have outside back Brian Kelly on the bench.

Williams said they were still working on their combinations after a shortened pre-season, but backed his ability to pair with Wighton.

The England international only arrived in Canberra in January after touring with Great Britain late last year.

He suffered a persistent quad strain during pre-season and Wighton was away for a week ahead of the NRL All Stars game so the pair haven't played much together, but the Orange-born five-eighth is keen to partner with the debutant.

Williams showed a few glimpses of what he'll bring to Canberra in the trial win over the Canterbury Bulldogs.

He's got a creative kicking game, will look to run the ball and isn't afraid to throw a cut-out pass.

Wighton felt his own left foot would complement Williams' right.

"He's been good, he's a good kid. Time will tell how things go," Wighton said.

"He's a great defender, he's a great ball runner, he gives us a kicking option on that right edge.

"Him and [hooker Josh Hodgson] will have that right-edge kicking, and I've got the left foot."

Williams was hoping to hit the ground running, but felt there would be plenty of room for improvement.

"Listen, we're not going to be 100 per cent in round one. That's not how it works, but I'll be looking forward to it," Williams said.

"It'll be a tough old game, they've got a new coach up there at the Titans.

"They'll come down firing with a point to prove and we're excited for it.

"We want to hit the ground running. [Wighton's] easy to play with, he's very vocal, so that helps me coming into a new team.

"I didn't want to come in here in the first week screaming and shouting.

"You've got to earn your stripes and they're helping me do that.

"We did the first two weeks together and then I had a little quad strain which kept me out for one or two weeks of training.

"Then he had the Indigenous week, so we had three weeks without each other."

It will be Williams' first chance to experience the Viking Clap in the flesh.

He's watched it on television, but was yet to experience the real thing - especially as he's running out onto Canberra Stadium.

A crowd of about 15,000 is expected for Friday's game, which would be a new Raiders record for a home game against the Titans.

The Raiders are still finalising how they'll commemorate their inaugural coach Don Furner snr, who died aged 88 two weeks ago.

But they have finalised what they'll do to celebrate the efforts of the emergency services during the summer of bushfires.

There'll be bucket collections around Canberra Stadium, with all funds raised going to the Salvation Army - who are the NRL's official bushfire relief partner.

NSW member for Bega Andrew Constance will blow the Viking horn and the mini footy teams come from Moruya, Batemans Bay, Merimbula, Pambula and Eden.

There'll be a moment of applause for all emergency services staff and volunteers, who get free entry when they show their identification.

Given Williams became the fifth Englishman in the Raiders' squad, he said there's been a lot of interest in the Raiders back home - especially with the team's success.

It's why he's seen the Viking Clap. Now he'll run out to it.

"Quite a lot of people watch it back in England, it was on quite a lot with the Raiders going so well last year and quite a few English boys in there," Williams said.

"I got to see what that was all about and hopefully I'll experience it in real life."

NRL ROUND ONE

Friday: Canberra Raiders v Gold Coast Titans at Canberra Stadium, 6pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Corey Horsburgh, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Reserves: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Michael Oldfield, 18. Jack Murchie, 19. Sam Williams, 20. Semi Valemei, 21. Tom Starling.

Titans squad: 1. Phillip Sami, 2. Anthony Don, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Tyrone Peachey, 5. Dale Copley, 6. Tyrone Roberts, 7. Ash Taylor, 8. Jarrod Wallace, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Sam Lisone, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Bryce Cartwright, 13. Jai Arrow. Reserves: 14. Nathan Peats, 15. Jai Whitbread, 16. Brian Kelly, 17. Jaimin Jolliffe, 18. Sam Stone, 19. Jonus Pearson, 20. Moeaki Fotuaika, 21. AJ Brimson.