Canberra captain Terry Campese says three successive wins have given his NRL club a much-needed confidence boost as they head to Melbourne to shake a long-running hoodoo.

The Raiders haven't won in the Victorian capital since 2000, losing 15 of their past 16 games home and away against the Storm with their only victory coming last year in Canberra.

Campese said those statistics hadn't figured in match preparations ahead of Sunday's clash, and he didn't feel they applied to the current crop of Raiders.

"It doesn't come into the equation," he said.

"Each year you have new players so we're just trying to focus on what we've been doing the last few weeks.

"We've had a few wins in a row so we just have to keep building on that.

"It's amazing what a couple of wins can do for your confidence, you can just tell at training that everyone's upbeat."

While the Storm got back in the winner's circle beating Penrith, the Raiders knocked over the Sharks last round and feel they're building at the right end of the season.

They remain outside the top eight but within striking distance and have made this match a priority.

"It's basically a must-win game if we want to keep in touch with the top eight.

"There's not much difference between fifth and 13th so that's what the main focus is, to get into that top eight and the boys are pumped up about that."

He said he expected Melbourne to still be at their best despite the club not playing for points due to salary cap rorting penalties.

"They're still playing for representative jerseys at the end of the year and they still want to win games, you can tell by the way they've been playing."

Canberra will have Test prop Dave Shillington back on deck after he missed the Sharks due to illness, while fellow forward Scott Logan is also set to play despite dislocating his finger in the win.

Regular skipper Alan Tongue could be back next week after overcoming a groin injury which has restricted him to only seven games this season.

"It was good to have him (Tongue) in contention for coming back into the side," Campese said.

"He's an inspiration to our side and it will be good to get him back."

Campese said the Raiders had let themselves down this year by not playing out the full 80 minutes of a match.

"There's still a lot of improvement to go," he said.

"We haven't put a full performance together so that's what we're focusing on, to get some more consistency."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP