Match Centre

Canterbury have possession to roll the game out. The blue and white fans in the south eastern corner go BANANAS.

Late on, Canterbury on the attack and Crichton picks up a Tracey grubber and goes through but Gee rules him offside. The Dogs challenge that - but it's unsuccessful. Canberra have it inside their own half inside the last two minutes.

The game is all-but over but Canterbury are still relentlessly making metres up the middle. Canberra are on the back foot like you wouldn't believe.

Canterbury on the attack for repeat sets. They're playing structured footy here and it might just seal them the victory!

Canberra with an error giving Canterbury a scrum on their own 40m. Crowd posted at 23,827 - the largest regular season crowd at this venue since 1995.

Canberra look for a 40/20 but it's fallen just short. They're challenging the call claiming Marcelo Montoya touches it, but the challenge fails.

A Canberra error on their own 40m gives Canterbury a scrum feed and another attacking opportunity...

Xerri with a huge break down the left edge... Dogs on fire here!

Canterbury have just flipped a switch. The last tackle option is a huge high ball from Burton that lands just inside the sideline, Weekes has to take it and is *nearly* forced into touch. Big chase on the Dogs too.

Canberra lose it a couple of plays in. Canberra wait a while, try to challenge, but the clock has run out on that option anyway. Bulldogs scrum on their own 10m.

Harry Hayes loses it early in the Bulldogs' first set after the last try, and Canberra have a scrum 15m out. Huge chance to swing the momentum back for the home side.

BUNKER: Bulldogs look to have their third but Connor Tracey can't get it to ground after a break! Strange with a huge trysaver.

The atmosphere has changed at GIO. Canterbury's portion of the crowd have well and truly found their voice and the home fans are a bit stunned. The Bulldogs get through that first set after points, Burton hoists it high and Savage takes it cleanly.

Things slowly starting to click for the Bulldogs, they've commanded possession a little more and they're throwing it around a bit more. Crichton through and SALMON! SALMON!

Good metres for Canterbury off this set and a set restart to boot.

Bunker for a Mariota try... Gee sends it up with the no try soft call and claiming Mariota knocked on. The Raiders' bench forward got up celebrate like he'd scored but the Bunker confirms he didn't ground it. Bulldogs 20m restart.

Sexton plays at the last tackle grubber and Canberra have another six tackles as a result. Big chance for the Raiders to remove any doubt over the result nice and early.

End of the first set for Canterbury and Matt Burton loses it on the last. Script seems to be the same after the break.

Canberra nearly go over again but there's a knock on. Canterbury with about 20 seconds of footy to take us to the break.

Canberra penalty out of their own end, high contact from Kikau. Mariota felled in the tackle creating that instance.

Sexton with a superb cut-out ball to Kiraz who scoops it up, looks like he's cornered so passes in field... to Canberra. Threat over for now.

Back-to-back set restarts for the visitors. Lots of pressure on Canberra's defence but so far they're holding true.

Savage spills it tackle two coming from his own end, Canterbury nearly capitalise but lose it themselves. No advantage from referee Gee so the Bulldogs have a scrum inside Canberra's 20m.

Poor last-tackle kick from the Dogs, a grubber that's easily fielded by Starling. Raiders off the hook.

Canterbury survive the latest Raiders set and the ball trickles touch in-goal. 20m restart. Can the Bulldogs do something with it?

Reed Mahoney tries a 40/20 but instead puts it out on the full. This feels like a redux of the Bulldogs' performance against Brisbane a fortnight ago. Putrid stuff.

Time off. Harry Hayes has come off second best in a defensive contest and he's off for a HIA. Dogs in all sorts.

Canterbury with an error coming out of their own end... or not. Captain's Challenge and Gee's decision is overturned. Morrin never lost it.

Canterbury somehow defend the set out and will start on their own 5m.

Penalty Canberra inside the Bulldogs 20m... they're going for the jugular! Tap and play.

Xerri finds space down the left edge but the corridor narrows and his short ball to Montoya is a bit delayed and it bounces off the winger into touch. Raiders scrum on their own 30m.

Canterbury pick up a penalty coming out of their own end, handy one that sees them start a set 10 short of halfway.

Canberra pick up a penalty coming out of their own end. So far they've sustained what Canterbury have thrown at them.

Canterbury with a knock on from Connor Tracey after nearly getting away with a cross-field kick. Canberra off the hook.

Oop, two plays later Xavier Savage spills it on his own 30m. Canterbury scrum well in Canberra territory...

The away fans begin to make some noise as Canterbury venture into Raiders' territory. The set ends poorly though with Sexton running the ball on tackle four and losing it in a big tackle.

Ethan Strange penalised and put on report for a dangerous tackle. Bulldogs now with some footy near halfway.

Canterbury pick up a penalty on Canberra's last tackle with Montoya pushed in the corner.

Starling goes over for a Canberra try after a mess of a play, but the Bunker chalks it off after he was ruled held in the lead-up. Raiders will keep the ball though.

Canberra with a set restart inside Canterbury's 10m zone. Huge pressure.

Canberra grubber to the left corner thinking they've caught the Bulldogs outside men short, but Kiraz is able to get to it and tap it dead. Dropout Bulldogs, which Burton sends 60+ metres nice and long.

Kiraz loses the ball in a tackle on his own 40m. Another chance for the hosts.

Canterbury not using the ball too well so far, Canberra looking much more dangerous ball-in-hand.

Set restart for Canberra at the end of their set, 20m from Canterbury's line.

Both teams get through their first sets, but Burton's kick at the end of the Bulldogs' first set is fielded on the full in-goal. 20m restart and seven tackles for Canberra.

GAME ON. Canterbury kick things off, Canberra have the ball first.

The horn blows, the Viking Clap deafens the stadium, the Raiders run out and their classic 80s theme song plays. Vibes ALL AROUND at the old Bruce Stadium. Referee Adam Gee runs out ready to get us going, he and the touchies are in their black and orange jerseys today.

It's NRL game number 50 for two players - Canberra bench forward Ata Mariota and Canterbury centre Bronson Xerri.

GIO Stadium is packed. An absolutely MASSIVE away presence has flooded the Hume Highway, nearly as much blue and white in the stands as lime green. Canberra will wear their traditional green lime jumper, while the Bulldogs are in their predominantly blue away jersey.

We have some team news for both sides ahead of kickoff - Canberra prop Corey Horsburgh is OUT (concussion) as is Bulldogs second rower Jacob Preston (suspended). The subsequent reshuffle puts Hosking in the starting prop role for the Raiders, Sasagi joining the interchange, while for Canterbury, Salmon shifts to back row, Mann starts lock and Hopoi joins the bench.

The nation's capital hosts a 1 v 2 battle for the ages! Canberra and Canterbury will face off, the latter holding top spot headed into this weekend. If the Raiders can knock the Bulldogs off by 18 or more, they'll jump the Belmore club into first place.