The Canberra Raiders will aim to exploit their height advantage in the outside backs when they meet Wests Tigers in their season opener at Campbelltown on Monday.
Raiders coach David Furner named Joel Monaghan and Adrian Purtell as his starting centres yesterday, giving Canberra a decided size advantage over Tigers pair Dean Collis and Chris Lawrence.
With Phil Graham set to make his return to NRL football alongside Purtell on the left wing, Furner said his team must take full use of its aerial advantage against the Tigers.
Purtell agreed, saying he and Graham had worked hard on their aerial skills over the past six weeks, in a bid to offer alternative options to Monaghan should the Raiders use the air at the back end of their sets.
''Height is definitely an asset we've got and I think they've got some shorter wingers as well,'' Purtell said.
''It's a great opportunity to end the sets when we've got tall guys out wide and a great opportunity to score some tries.
''You need those options on both sides, because teams are starting to switch on to the fact that we go to Joel and they're double teaming him.
''Me and Phil are definitely an option on the other side and we've been doing kicking and catching sessions for the last six weeks and we're good to go.''
Captain Alan Tongue has recovered from a fractured thumb and will start at lock for the Raiders, leaving reserve hooker Stuart Flanagan as the only player named in the team under an injury cloud.
Furner has placed Flanagan (knee) on his bench, while Brett Kelly is his 18th man.
Furner admitted he had considered using Kelly on the left wing instead of Graham, who hasn't played an NRL game since round three last year.
Former Tiger Bronson Harrison will start in the back row, meaning three players will make their NRL debuts for the Raiders if Flanagan takes to the field.
While the Raiders will have the size advantage in their outside backs, the same can't be said of the front row.
Furner yesterday named Josh Miller to join recruit David Shillington as a starting prop, with Trevor Thurling to be used as a back-up front-rower off the bench.
With Troy Thompson, Scott Logan, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Dane Tilse all unavailable, Furner admitted the Raiders would lack size the forwards.
But he backed Miller to ably assist Shillington.
''We're taking a little bit of a lighter bench down there, but I know Joshy is keen to have the start and I know that he's going to be very aggressive up front,'' Furner said.
''[Shillington] is going to be in a position to lead the pack, which is something he wanted to focus on coming to the Raiders.
''With the loss of Scott Logan and Dane Tilse in the trial against the Bulldogs I thought Dave fell into the role quite well.
''He led us up front and he played a lot of minutes in that trial.''
Furner expected round-one game to be played at a furious pace.
''They've got guys there that are going to be testing you out speed wise.
''They play a lot of angles in the middle of the ruck and they will test our middle of the ruck.
''I'm expecting it to be a fast game, it's their home ground and that's the style that the Wests Tigers play.''
Meanwhile, Tigers coach Tim Sheens is happy with ball-playing forward Todd Payten's recovery from a calf injury, naming him on the bench.
Skipper Robbie Farah was named at hooker after getting over back surgery, while Benji Marshall is in his new position of halfback.
