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Xavier Savage will start on the wing when Canberra tackle the toughest task in the NRL - playing the Panthers in Penrith.
Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has paid the price for his disappointing showing against North Queensland, dropped to the bench for the Raiders' trip to Penrith on Sunday.
Gun winger Jordan Rapana will shift to the No.1 jersey in his absence, leaving teen starlet Xavier Savage to take his place on the wing.
That comes less than a week after coach Ricky Stuart said Savage was still learning what constitutes "NRL standard" after he was rag-dolled into touch with his first carry in Canberra's 18-12 loss to North Queensland.
Stuart had threatened to swing the axe and said some of his players "have got to look at themselves because it is not up to NRL standard", but only bench forward Emre Guler has been cut from the lineup for their coming contest.
In his place is 20-year-old English second-rower Harry Rushton who will make his first-grade debut, but there is still no Hudson Young, who has missed time with a toe injury.
Nicoll-Klokstad made seven errors in the Cowboys loss and was taken from the field on 66 minutes, replaced by Savage.
Veteran centre Jarrod Croker also remains on the outer, still stuck on 291 NRL games after not being picked yet this season.
Heading into the toughest test currently on the NRL schedule with the Panthers not having lost in Penrith since 2019, forward Ryan Sutton said his team simply had to bring the intensity.
"We've just got to fight fire with fire ... the Panthers are the pinnacle of the competition at the minute, they're top of the league and we've got to make sure we match them from minute one, all the way through to minute 80," he told reporters.
"We know it's a big game but it's still early in the competition ... we've got to get back on the horse and get the season rolling."
Like Sutton, debutant Rushton is from Super League club Wigan Warriors' youth system and has impressed in the NSW Cup since joining the Raiders in 2021.
He caught the eye in the Raiders' NSW Cup win against the Mounties in Wagga Wagga with an exquisite try that saw him grubber kick to himself before soccering the ball forward and gathering it to score in remarkable fashion.
"He's done one good kick and he thinks he can play for Blackpool ... if it comes off then great, and if it doesn't he's back out (of the team)," Sutton said with a laugh.
"He's good Harry, he's really good with the ball in hand as well ... coming in and being given the freedom to play, it's an insight into what he can do.
"He's come from Wigan youth like me ... he's a tough kid and he knows what needs to be done.
"I'm really looking forward to it ... he's been knocking on the door for a few weeks now."