LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Canberra Raiders have been dealt a heavy blow as they prepare for the NRL finals, with both Josh Papali'i and Corey Horsburgh facing time on the sidelines.
This news puts the Raiders in a precarious position, as a loss against the Sharks could leave their top 8 fate in the hands of other teams.
The absence of Papali'i and Horsburgh will be keenly felt by the Raiders, as both players have been influential figures for the team.
It is a disappointing setback for coach Ricky Stuart and his men, who will now have to find a way to succeed without two key forwards.
The Raiders had hoped that Horsburgh would escape a ban for his shoulder charge on Corey Jensen during their recent defeat.
The club believed that Horsburgh had made a clear attempt to wrap his arm around the opposing player, but the NRL judiciary did not see it that way.
To the shock of the club, Horsburgh's defence failed and his ban was increased to four weeks.
This means that he will only be able to play again this year if the Raiders make it to the NRL grand final.
Horsburgh expressed his disappointment with the decision, but vowed to move forward.
"It's very disappointing to receive a four-week ban.
I believe it is excessive, but we have to keep moving forward," Horsburgh said.
It will be a challenging task for the Raiders to continue their finals campaign without two of their key players, but they will have to find a way to overcome this setback.
The Rabbitohs and the Cowboys now hold the fate of the Raiders' top 8 hopes in their hands.
A win against the Sharks could potentially see the Raiders rise to 5th on the ladder, but they will need the help of other teams to secure their finals spot.
The loss of Papali'i and Horsburgh will undoubtedly be felt by the Raiders, but they will have to regroup and find a way to succeed without them.
It will be a test of the team's depth and resilience as they push forward in their NRL finals campaign.