Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson hopes a more streamlined game plan for halfback Aidan Sezer will continue to showcase his potential this weekend against the Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium.
The Raiders playmaker said some minor tweaks were made to his game before his dominant performance against St George Illawarra, helping his side to an impressive 22-point win and praise from coach Ricky Stuart.
Sezer's direct approach with the ball kept the Dragons' defence guessing with a line break and five tackle breaks evidence of his potential elusiveness.
"For Sez we simplified his plan and what we kind of need from him as a team," Hodgson said.
"When he's being a leader and being loud and vocal and telling everybody where they need to be, he plays good footy because he's not really focused on anything else.
"I thought he looked really comfortable and he came up with some big defensive plays on our own goal line."
Hodgson backed the Tigers to be stinging after they were unable to get a victory for beloved veteran Benji Marshall in his 300th NRL game, as they went down to the Parramatta Eels 30-12.
"When you have a big occasion like that you're normally doing everything you can do to get the win, so I don't think that played a part in it.
Match Highlights: Dragons v Raiders
"But they're chasing the eight, so they’ll be coming down here to try and turn us over and get the two points."
Canberra will need to overcome the loss of Nick Cotric to suspension for three games, with the reliable Michael Oldfield called in to cover right centre.
Despite promising 20-year-old Sebastian Kris playing three games this season, Stuart opted for experience in the form of Oldfield.
"I really feel for him sometimes because we've had some kids playing really well in the centres and on the wing, so it’s been tough for him to get a gig," Hodgson said of Oldfield.
Jarrod Croker joined rarefied air against the Dragons and now stands alone as the top try-scorer in Raiders history.
The 28-year-old is on course to finish his career as one of the most prolific point-scorers in the history of the Telstra Premiership.
But his try in the 16th minute last weekend was special for a number of reasons for the Raiders co-captain.
"I'm more pleased to get it with a good win, it would have been a bit deflating if we didn’t perform well.
"Some of the players on that list are some of the best players to ever pull on a green jersey,
"So, to be a part of that list, to be half as good a player as some of those guys is very special to me and it means a lot.
"In warm-up I knew where Dad was, and I knew where the seats where so I thought 'I'd be really good to score a try there if I get the chance'."
Along with two important competition points, playing in front of up to 90 former Raiders players this Saturday as part of the club's Old Boys day will spur the current squad on.
Rules may change to reduce controversy
"It's always a special occasion the old boys' reunion but even more so this year with the 30-year anniversary of the [1989] grand final win," Croker said.
"Since Ricky came here in 2014, it's all been about the club's history and its past players.
"We were doing quizzes every week about '89, so we know a fair bit about it and the young fellas do,
"I think Elliott [Whitehead], [Josh] Hodgo and Sia [Soliola] were the only ones born then so we had a to do a fair bit of history [revision]."
