Canberra are braced for the stifling Townsville humidity they're set to encounter against North Queensland on Saturday but stand-in skipper Josh Hodgson insists the Raiders won't adapt their attack-minded approach.
Ricky Stuart's squad left the nation's capital on Tuesday to give themselves extra time to acclimatise to the conditions they'll face against the Cowboys in a difficult NRL season opener for last year's preliminary finalists.
Stuart had the sprinklers turned on before training over the last week in an attempt to replicate the atmospheric moisture and dampness under foot that'll greet his side at 1300 Smiles Stadium..
But Hodgson, who is deputising as captain for the injured Jarrod Croker, said the conditions won't see a change to the traits that served the Green Machine so well in 2016.
"We'll just play our style we practice all the time and they way in which we want to play the game," Hodgson said.
"If the weather changes and things like that you've got to play a lot more conservative, but we'll stick to the game plan that we've made."
While no drastic changes are expected, the Raiders pack will have a slightly different look with Junior Paulo suspended for round one over a road rage incident.
Sia Soliola will play on the flanks with Elliott Whitehead moving into the centres to cover the loss of Croker who is expected to be out until at least round five with a knee injury.
Luke Bateman gets a start at lock while Clay Priest will make his return from the broken ankle that kept him out of the Raiders' preliminary final loss to Melbourne last year.
"What we lose with Junior in experience, we gain a lot of energy and excitement with those guys," Soliola said.
The Raiders come up against a group of imposing Cowboys forwards headlined by Reigning Dally M Medallist Jason Taumalolo and Test prop Matt Scott, with Soliola confident the new faces will relish the chance to go up against some of the game's best.
"They'll be pretty pumped to play against an experienced forward pack," Soliola said.
"It's a huge challenge for them as well as myself and all of the other forwards."
