Raiders still hope for NRL finals miracle

Canberra's NRL season is all but over, yet the players won't give up on making a six-match winning run to qualify for the finals.

Forward Luke Bateman admitted it would be extremely tough for the Raiders to turn things around after Saturday's 20-14 defeat to Melbourne.

"It's definitely becoming desperate now. We're looking at six from six which, as a playing group, we don't see as unrealistic," Bateman said on Monday.

Despite South Sydney sitting four places below them in 14th, Saturday's match at ANZ Stadium shapes as a tough task, with three suspensions causing a selection headache for coach Ricky Stuart.

Their two best players - winger Jordan Rapana and star forward Josh Papalii - will miss the game due to shoulder charges in the last two weeks.

And versatile forward Sia Soliola is facing a lengthy ban at Tuesday night's judiciary hearing into his brutal high shot on Billy Slater.

Even if a depleted Raiders can beat the Rabbitohs, they'll need to defeat Cronulla, the Warriors and the Storm away as well as negotiating home fixtures against Penrith and Newcastle to give them a hope of making the top eight.

It's a long way from the dizzying heights of last season when an exciting young group went on a remarkable run to finish second and make a preliminary final.

"We're definitely underperforming and we know our season should be looking better than it is right now," Bateman said.

"It's definitely one of the most trying times we've been through as a playing group."

Former Test prop Dave Taylor has given fans something to smile about, showing glimpses of his potential in the past two matches.

But the club which handed him an NRL lifeline faces a battle to retain him.

Super League clubs are reportedly circling, despite Taylor's ill-fated stint with Catalans Dragons last year.

"Sticky (Stuart) gave him a really big challenge when he first arrived here before Christmas," Bateman said.

"He's taken every step and he's stood up to every challenge Ricky gave him.

"I'd definitely like to see him stick around."