You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content

As far as trips away in the NRL, a game played in Canberra in July is one not many players look forward to.

But for Knights prop Kade Snowden, he’s rearing to take the field after an extended break on the sideline.

It’s a timely return of the experienced forward who rejoins an injury-depleted line-up approaching the Round 18 match.

While being forced to sit out due to suspension, the break from playing has given his body a valuable rest.

“It’s probably the best my body has felt for about a month or so,” Snowden said on Monday.

“I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s been hard watching the boys play and them just getting beat."

With a number of the Knights' mainstay forwards battling injury, it’s provided younger emerging players at the Club the chance to develop through the experience of playing in the NRL.

“They have been playing really well considering how young our side is,” he said.

The squad returned to training on Monday at Knights HQ after the weekend’s bye and were put through a high intensity session in preparation for Friday night’s clash.

“We didn’t have much dropped ball and that has been our biggest problem,” he said.

“The boys trained really well today and we just need to keep doing that all week.”

The Country Origin representative prop believes the key to success for the Knights against the Raiders will be in dominating possession.

“If we can wear them out early and hold the ball and complete we have a chance,” he said.

In the sides’ last encounter in Round 13 at Hunter Stadium, the Raiders proved strong through the middle and eventually got the better of the Knights winning 44-22.

But Snowden assures the Knights will be better prepared and look to pay particular attention to that area of their game.

“It’s something we’ve definitely been working on and haven’t stuck with it,” he said.

“It has to start soon or we’ll be down the bottom of the table all year.”

A positive for 28-year-old is the fact the Knights will also gain veteran lock Jeremy Smith who returns from a sternum injury.

Smith featured in the NSW Cup Knights’ line-up and played 40 minutes off the bench in the side’s Round 17 clash against the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday.

“You can’t replace Jeremy Smith in a team. He brings that confidence and is someone that you want,” he said.

“He played really well and his body help up good.”

And as far as Canberra’s cold winter weather goes, he says the Knights will need to be mentally prepared.

“I thought mornings here have been cold, but it’s going to be an eye opener when we go down there,” he said.