Canberra pivot Terry Campese says his teammates will need to be at their most creative if they are to outwit a North Queensland side coached by their former mentor Neil Henry.

For the first time since Henry's defection from the Raiders to the Cowboys, the two teams will meet in Monday night's fourth-round NRL clash at Canberra Stadium.

While the fixture has the makings of an all-out grudge match, particularly for fans in the stands, Campese said there was no bad blood between the players and their old boss.

"That's just how football is, people come and leave all the time," he told AAP on Sunday.

"There's no hard feelings there, (Henry) still gets along with all the players.

"It's just like having an old mate come back and play against you really."

Which isn't to say the Green Machine don't want to chalk up a win against the man whose familiarity with their game could give the Cowboys the insight they need to secure their second win of the season.

"I'm sure a few of the boys would like to get a win against him," Campese said.

"If he takes the same game plan as what he gave us it will be a very close match because he knows us and we know him.

"It will be very interesting."

While the Raiders languish at the bottom of the ladder, they have closed their losing margins week-by-week and were unluckily denied victory in their last match against Parramatta following a controversial video referee call on a Justin Carney try.

Campese said the new two-referee system had quickened the pace of the game but hadn't improved decision-making.

"I think it's quickened the game up, that's what they wanted," the five-eighth said.

"But in saying that I don't think the decisions have really changed.

"They're still getting a few wrong and with that extra person there they should be reducing the errors."

Canberra will be buoyed by the return of captain Alan Tongue from a shoulder injury, while 18-year-old Josh Dugan replaces David Milne at fullback to make his first grade debut.

Campese said while his side have been putting it together for the first 40 minutes of each game, their second half has seen them "clock off" and fall down defensively.

"We've been working on execution at training a fair bit, our passes and our timing," the 24-year-old said.

"The players haven't been spot on like we were at the end of last year.

"The other teams have been watching our game and defending us a bit better too."

And if strategy and game-play fails, the side are hoping a secret weapon - the Canberra chill - will help them dish out a frosty reception to their competition.

"They are from North Queensland so hopefully it's as cold as it can get," Campese said.

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