Raiders' focus not on new Eel Moses

Canberra prop Junior Paulo is preparing for his first away game against his former club Parramatta on Saturday and believes new recruit Mitchell Moses will fit into the Eels line-up with ease.

After making the mid-season move to the Raiders last season, Paulo knows the feeling of having to adjust to new surroundings almost immediately but believes the pivot will have no trouble.

Moses has already taken on the Raiders once this season for the Wests Tigers, with the Ryde junior well contained in Canberra's 46-6 win back in Round 3.

"It was the same group of boys that they had there, a real tight-knit group, and I'm sure he'll slot in straight away," Paulo said of Moses.

Paulo has been in barnstorming form for Canberra despite the Raiders' woes in recent weeks, averaging over 146 metres a game in 2017 – although two errors against the Knights let the hard-running forward down on the weekend.

The 23-year-old said the Green Machine were desperate to avoid a fourth straight loss for the first time in almost two seasons and added he would not only run at the Eels' newest recruit but whoever stood in front of him.

"If I can get the ball on the edge somewhere, I'm sure I'll be running at him (Moses) but, if I get the ball, I'm just trying to run over whoever is in front of me," he said.

"We're in survival mode now.

"You've got to be desperate for a win, especially come this weekend against Parramatta."

Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson insists the side will focus on themselves rather than Moses but said the timing of the 22-year-old's inclusion couldn't have worked out better for the blue and gold.

With Eels halfback Corey Norman facing a stint on the sidelines with a medial ligament knee injury, Moses will link with Clint Gutherson in the halves.

"It's obviously come at a good time with Norman being out this week, so it's a good addition for them but nothing changes for us," Hodgson said. 

"I think they'll probably look for him to give them a bit of direction, especially with Corey being out they'll really need someone there just to steer their big men around the field, kick well and finish in good areas.

"I think that's probably what they'll be looking to for him to bring to the team, but we're not really worried about that.

"He's obviously a very skilful player and a good addition for Parramatta.

"But we'll just concentrate on ourselves and try and fix up a few areas that we've spoken about."

The game will mark Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker's 200th in the Telstra Premiership game after making his debut back in 2009.

The inspirational leader has played more than 20 games in all eight seasons of his career so far and has scored 102 tries.

Croker has scored six tries from his last seven appearances against the Eels and six tries from his last seven appearances at ANZ Stadium.