Star Canberra forward Josh Papalii is preparing for an emotional round one NRL clash with former teammate Shannon Boyd.
The 26-year-old departed the Raiders at the end of last season after 111 games to take up a lucrative four-year deal with Gold Coast.
Considering Papalii and Boyd came through the ranks together, Sunday's match at Cbus Super Stadium will have some extra feeling in it.
"It will be real emotional playing Boydy, coming up through the (under) 20s with Shannon and then playing NRL together," Papalii told reporters on Tuesday.
"He was a massive loss to the Raiders but we've got some young boys coming through now and I'm excited to see them step up.
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"I don't think blue suits him and the Titans have a tighter jersey to Canberra, but I hope he does well and we get the win."
With Boyd and fellow big man Junior Paulo leaving in the off-season, the Raiders' forward pack has become significantly lighter.
Instead of coming in at a combined weight of 874kg, Canberra's forwards tip the scales at 824kg to be the smallest in the NRL this season.
But with the inclusion of Englishmen John Bateman and Ryan Sutton, the Raiders are hoping to catch opposition teams off-guard.
Canberra co-captain Jarrod Croker is backing the new-look forward pack to do a job for the Raiders.
"It's a very impressive looking forward pack, isn't it," he told AAP.
"It's very mobile and even though we lost two boys who are absolutely loved here at the club and they loved being here, it's just the way it is.
"They say we've lost a bit of size, but Josh Papalii and Joe Tapine aren't exactly little men so we've still got some punch there."
