NRL: Campese return keenly anticipated

Terry Campese. Photo / Getty Images

All eyes will be on the long-awaited return of Canberra captain Terry Campese in tonight's clash against the Warriors.

Raiders assistant coach Brett Kimmorley said the former NSW and Australian representative will play off the bench in his first game since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee last April.

The 28-year-old has had a horror run of injuries, playing just eight matches since first tearing his ACL in 2010.

"[The] plan will still be that he'll come off the bench, obviously ease him back into the game," Kimmorley said. "He's done a lot of work and a lot of preparation but I don't think it quite prepares you for playing.

"How long he's going to last we're unsure.

"It's a matter of getting quality minutes out of him, keeping him fresh and letting his body be aware of just getting back into some collisions."

Campese's return is likely to see last week's debutant Anthony Milford drop out of the 18-man squad in the only change to the Raiders' lineup that came from behind to beat the Sydney Roosters 24-22 last week.

Co-captain David Shillington, who was inspirational in the 16-point comeback, clocking up 144m with the ball from the front row, sees tonight's match as the perfect trial for the transtasman test in Canberra next Friday.

"New Zealand have a great forward pack, players like Ben Matulino and Russell Packer, they take the team forward really well and play real aggressively," he said. "Hopefully I can put the best foot forward for the test match the week after because I know players in our team, and theirs, are vying for a spot in that game."

Both sides are desperate for a win, as the Warriors are at the bottom of the table with just one win from five matches and the Raiders fourth last with two wins. However, it looks to be an uphill battle for the Kiwis, who haven't won in Canberra since 1997.

"That's a fair hoodoo. But like I was saying about this test match next week, they're all vying for spots and they'll be that pumped up they'll be a handful," Shillington said.

Meanwhile, Canberra have announced the re-signing of Jarrod Croker for a further two seasons.

- AAP