Ricky Stuart says his Canberra team needs to learn how to win again.
Last Sunday's memorable 14-12 NRL victory over the Sydney Roosters was the perfect start.
The Raiders' best performance of the season might have come too late to play finals as they sit 10th with a 9-13 record, but Stuart believes it will yield long-term benefits.
The win against the Roosters reversed a horrendous record in close encounters as they've lost seven games by less than six points this year.
They will get two more shots at knocking off top-eight teams, starting with Saturday's match at GIO Stadium against South Sydney.
"You hear people talk about learning how to win and it's a very important part of a makeup of the squad," Stuart told reporters on Friday
"We've had an awfully lot of close losses this year and we had a very close win last week so it's feeling, it's an emotion and something players leaarn how to do.
"That type of game last week is good for learning how to win, a tough game against tough opposition and it's something that will be fronting us again tomorrow."
But the Raiders will have to step up against the Rabbitohs without Aidan Sezer, with Stuart putting a line through the star halfback after his bid to return from a hamstring injury fell short.
Sezer is on Canberra's list of outs with captain Jarrod Croker (knee), fullback Jack Wighton (suspension) and forward Joseph Tapine (thumb).
But Stuart expects Sezer to come back for the Raiders' final round trip to New Zealand to play the Warriors.
