Canberra star Elliott Whitehead is determined to stay as a first choice second-rower as competition for spots in the Raiders' forward pack heats up.
The England international was Canberra's Mr Fix It last NRL season, filling in at lock and centre when called upon by coach Ricky Stuart.
The Raiders' second-row depth has only been boosted in the off-season by the acquisition of Wigan ace John Bateman.
It means the Green Machine have Whitehead, Bateman, Josh Papalii, Joe Tapine and Sia Soliola capable of slotting into the back-row.
Whitehead is unsure how Stuart is planning to structure the team, but could know more after Canberra's final trial game against Canterbury in Bega on Saturday.
"Hopefully I play back-row most of the year but if I need to go into the centre or somewhere in the middle I'm happy to do that," he told AAP
"I'm all about whatever is best for the team, so if that's the case I'll move around but I want to stay in the back-row."
Whitehead could partner Tapine and Bateman with Papalii's expected move from lock to the front row with hooker Josh Hodgson and prop Ryan Sutton.
The Raiders will field their best available team against the Bulldogs after a youthful outfit edged out Parramatta last week.
It will be the first glimpse at Jack Wighton in his new role at five-eighth after switching from fullback.
Wighton has been Canberra's No.1 for the past four seasons, but Stuart is after more grunt in the halves following the departure of Blake Austin.
"He'll (Wighton) fit in really well in that position, he's been doing everything right at training at six," Whitehead said.
Centre Joseph Leilua (hamstring), winger Michael Oldfield (groin) and Bateman (side strain) will miss the hit out but are expected to be ready for the round one clash with Gold Coast.
Australian Associated Press
