Friday night's clash between the Eels and the Raiders at St Mary's in Sydney's west is the first NRL level trial between two clubs for this season, with several questions surrounding both teams.

Rookie playmaker Dylan Brown is expected to spend time alongside Mitchell Moses in the halves, Jaeman Salmon will likely play centres while Reed Mahoney will have a shot at sealing the starting hooker role.

Clint Gutherson is also expected to spend time at fullback with Bevan French in Indigenous All-Stars camp but the majority of the Eels' biggest names will play.

It represents a significant time in the club which took last year's wooden spoon but have a group of players who have featured in dominant junior sides in recent years pushing for first-grade spots.

"I want it (the No.9 jersey)," Mahoney told AAP.

"The boys around me are training really well and making my job easier and what I'm doing is making their job easier.

"I've just got to play well in the trials. Everyone is really competitive about their training at the moment and positions are really hard to pick for the whole squad.

"It's an open race and it's down to the trials. I've just got to put my best forward and let (coach) Brad (Arthur) make the call."

Mahoney, 20, is no stranger to having to impress in the pre-season as he battles Kaysa Pritchard for the starting role this year.

He began last summer on a six-week train-and-trial basis before Christmas and ended the year with nine first-grade games to his name - including four as a starting hooker.

"To play first grade was pretty emotional and physically and mentally overwhelming," Mahoney said.

"The boys around me made me confident in my ability to go out there and do my job.

"I was lucky enough to play a few games back to back. I've still got a lot to learn but I've come back really hungry."

Meanwhile, Sam Williams, Dunamis Lui and Brad Abbey are the only starters from Canberra's final game of 2018 to be included in the Raiders' youthful 24-man squad.

Williams is fighting to retain his spot at five-eighth as Raiders coach Ricky Stuart looks to shift fullback Jack Wighton to the halves.

Warriors recruit Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Brad Abbey appear locked in a battle to take Wighton's position for the Raiders' round-one clash with Gold Coast.

England international Ryan Sutton will make his first appearance for Canberra after transferring from Wigan during the off-season.

Australian Associated Press