Canberra might have been dealt a hammer blow ahead of the NRL season with star Xavier Savage's broken jaw, but there's no shortage of options to replace the youngster at fullback.
Veteran winger Jordan Rapana will get first crack at the No.1 jersey in Sunday's trial against Wests Tigers and appears the front-runner to take on the role come round one.
Versatile back Harley Smith-Shields, who'll return from an ACL tear this weekend, is also on the shortlist to cover Savage, as is depth option Albert Hopoate.
Savage's jaw injury, suffered in last Sunday's trial against Canterbury, will keep him out until at least round seven.
Halfback Jamal Fogarty admitted it hurt losing Savage given the 20-year-old had just completed his first pre-season as the first-choice fullback, but backed the Raiders to cover his absence with ease.
"It's not ideal to go through the whole pre-season with Xav, we've worked really hard to get that combination going just to get a steady start to the season," he told reporters.
"We're back to square one with a new fullback, but we've got players here and the right coaching staff to get us ready for the early rounds.
"Raps (Rapana) can do the good job there, we've seen it before. Last year he had a couple of games there ... he's a once-in-a-lifetime person in general, but also as a footballer, he's so care-free."
Canberra lost Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to the Warriors in the off-season, after the 2019 grand final fullback lost his starting role to Savage in the back half of last campaign.
But backline depth has quickly become a strength for the Raiders.
Young centres Seb Kris and Matt Timoko were first-team regulars last season, while veteran Jarrod Croker, young winger James Schiller and Hopoate all look set to miss the round one lineup.
Winger Nick Cotric, who's set to switch to the right side this season and combine with Timoko, said the shake-up late in the pre-season wouldn't rattle the Raiders.
"It's just that chat on the field, you've got to be loud and communicating with the boys on the field," he told reporters.
"(Rapana) will slot in fine, he's a freak anywhere he plays. He doesn't mind that position too."
