Canberra prop David Shillington has predicted another fiery reception is in store for ex-Raiders Michael Weyman and Neville Costigan, when they line up in the front row for St George Illawarra in Sunday's bumper NRL clash.

Shillington said the presence of two former team-mates packing down for the opposition, could help inspire the Raiders to continue their incredible 10-year undefeated run against the Dragons at Canberra Stadium.

In the corresponding match last year, the Raiders, led by Josh Miller, turned the fireworks on for Weyman in particular, in a spiteful match which seemed to blunt the Dragons bravado ahead of the finals.

With hit-man Miller still out with concussion, Shillington is hungry to step up after missing last season's clash.

Although Shillington was never a team-mate of Weyman and Costigan at Canberra, he's played with them at rep level and said there's a point to prove.

"When you know someone in the opposition you always want to get it over them," Shillington told AAP.

"You don't necessarily want to hurt them because you're friends with them but you'd still like to get them.

"I'm sure that's what Joshy was doing to Mick Weyman last year and someone might try it again this year, who knows?

"It was a pretty fiery game last year I remember Joshy and Justin Poore threw a few at each other and Dean Young and Campo (Terry Campese) blew up at each other, so that's footy sometimes and it was great to see a bit of passion out there and I'm sure it will be the same this week because the Dragons will be fully prepared this time."

After the Raiders battered the red V into submission at Canberra Stadium in round 23 last year, the Dragons managed just one more win before the finals before being bundled out of the premiership with two consecutive playoff losses.

In one of the game's most incredible records, the Dragons have only beaten the Raiders once in their past 10 meetings and in their history, have tasted victory just twice in the nation's capital.

Despite the edge they seem to hold over their more fancied opponents, Shillington stressed the Raiders had no reason to be over-confident and said the Dragons had no need to be afraid.

Canberra must win to keep their finals hopes alive, and Shillington warned the minor-premiership bound Dragons won't be caught off guard again.

"If we can reproduce something like last year we'll go a long way to winning but I think the Dragons might have been a bit ambushed that day when they got here, so they'll be ready for it this time," he said.

"They saw what happened last year and they'll be ready, they're not silly.

"I guess you get a small amount of confidence out of it but it's not the style of confidence where it's like `we know we can come out and beat these guys'. It's not like we're dominating them because they're the benchmark.

"I'm not sure they'd be worried about us but I'm sure they'll probably remember the game last year and want to fix that up."

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