Adamson to return for Raiders match
against the Warriors

Canberra Raiders second-rower Matt Adamson will return from injury against the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday, as the Raiders prepare to lock horns with a former teammate.

Adamson moves straight back into the starting team after missing four matches with a rib cartilage injury.

One opponent who will be sure to give those ribs a full fitness test on Saturday will be former Raiders premiership player, Ruben Wiki.

Having played 225 first grade games with the Green Machine, Wiki made a tough decision to leave the Raiders and join the Warriors this season. Raiders coach Matt Elliott played down the impending clash with the Kiwi Test skipper.

?We?re not going to talk too much about Ruben,? Elliott said. ?I know Ruben?s got a close relationship with all of us here, but we?ll reminisce about friendships after the game. We?ve got to make sure we maintain our focus.?

The Raiders have won three of their last four matches and are gaining momentum at the right time of year. The Raiders played some of their best footy of the season in last Sunday?s 26-18 win over the second-placed Parramatta Eels.

?We?re building a bit of momentum, but the other promising thing is that we?re starting to get regain our best available squad,? Elliott said.

?Matty Adamson is back this week, Andrew Lomu?s return is imminent and Marshall Chalk looks like he might make his return from a fractured jaw in Premier League this week.

?That starts to create some internal competition for positions, like we had at the beginning of the year. And when you have that, guys tend to play their best footy.

?There was no hesitation putting [Adamson] straight back in there. I think we?ve missed his impact on the game. He certainly adds a dimension to our play.?

RAIDERS v WARRIORS Saturday, July 23, 5.30pm (AEST) Ericsson Stadium

1. CLINTON SCHIFCOFSKE 2. PHIL GRAHAM 3. DAVID HOWELL 4. ADAM MOGG 5. CRAIG FRAWLEY 6. JASON SMITH 7. TODD CARNEY 8. JOSH MILLER 9. LINCOLN WITHERS 10. TROY THOMPSON 11. MATT ADAMSON 12. IAN HINDMARSH 13. JASON CROKER

INTERCHANGE 14. ALAN TONGUE 15. BEN CROSS 16. MICHAEL HODGSON 17. TYRAN SMITH 18. MICHAEL ROBERTSON 19. JASON WILLIAMS