Raiders coach Ricky Stuart opposes pre-season trials due to injury risks and season length.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has long opposed pre-season trials, considering the length of the season-proper - seven gruelling months - and the risk of injuries.
Last year, the Raiders fielded a near full-strength lineup for the final trial against the Sharks. The Raiders went down heavily, 40-10, before bouncing back a couple of weeks later to hammer the Warriors 30-8 in the first round.
There are plenty of reasons why there may have been a turnaround, including a mindset that it is only a trial game with no premiership points lost or gained.
Another is that there is plenty of experimentation in trial games, with the seemingly constant subbing of players, and the risk of injury to key players always in the background.