Canberra will use their embarrassing loss to Cronulla earlier in the year as the spark required to cause an upset and keep their NRL season alive.
The reigning premiers thrashed the Raiders 42-16 in round two, putting 30 points on them after halftime.
While rarely beaten in such convincing fashion, close losses and form lapses have left Canberra realistically needing to win all five of their remaining matches to play finals.
Raiders assistant coach Mick Crawley said the Sharks flogging had been spoken about in the lead up to Saturday night's match at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
"When we played them down here earlier in the year they embarrassed us a little bit in front of our home fans," Crawley said.
"They got over the top of us in the middle of the field and we want to rectify that.
"We're looking to give them one back this week."
While the Sharks on their home turf are an imposing task, the away side have won the past eight clashes in the fixture.
Crawley believes the budding rivalry is due to the Sharks' game style.
"They're an aggressive side and you've got to match their aggression otherwise they'll beat you," Crawley said.
"We're going up there with no false ideas about what's ahead of us, it's going to be a tough game."
With Origin forward Josh Papalii returning from suspension, Crawley confirmed Josh Hodgson will start at hooker and Kurt Baptiste on the bench.
Hodgson started the past two games at lock with Baptiste at dummy-half, but that ploy won't be used as the Raiders look to counter the Cronulla's formidable forward pack.
"It's something we can use depending on who we're playing but we think this week going with a bigger pack will work for us," Crawley said.
"You've got to stop them up the middle and I've got no doubt they'll be thinking the same thing."
Sharks playmaker James Maloney was instrumental in demolishing the Raiders last time, but he remains sidelined with a hand injury.
His replacement at five-eighth is likely to be Fa'amanu Brown, who looks set to play despite a heavy head knock in last week's win over the Warriors.
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