He’s logged just 40 minutes of under-20s time since breaking a toe in May, but Canberra insist young winger Jack Wighton has the mettle to make a difference in their sudden-death NRL semi-final on Saturday.

Officially, the 19-year-old has yet to make the cut after being named in the Raiders’ extended 20-man squad for the South Sydney clash, but the club on Wednesday hinted he would play.

Raiders assistant coach Andrew McFadden agreed Wighton would start underdone, but had no doubt about the teenager’s ability to rise to the challenge in what would be his first taste of NRL finals football.

“His conditioning levels are probably not as good as you’d like, but that’s just circumstantial,” McFadden said.

“I’m sure he’ll add something when he gets on.

“He’s a fearless kid.

“He doesn’t get over-awed.

“I know he’ll get nervous but when he gets on the field, he knows what to do.”

Wighton made his first-grade debut in round two as cover for the injured Reece Robinson, but needed little time to press his claims for a starting spot.

But his breakthrough season was stunted after an accident on a backyard trampoline – much to the chagrin of club officials.

His return will provide the Raiders with a little extra firepower as they head into Saturday’s match at ANZ Stadium minus centre Jarrod Croker, who fractured his cheekbone in Canberra’s elimination final win over Cronulla.

He had surgery on Wednesday and with a recovery schedule of up to eight weeks, that’s ruled out any chance of a comeback even if the Raiders go all the way.

The NRL’s top pointscorer for 2012 hadn’t missed a game all year.

Meanwhile, McFadden said coach David Furner had already anointed the man to take over Croker’s goalkicking duties, although he’ll be keeping that information close to his chest.

Fullback Josh Dugan has put up his hand for the added responsibility, keen to erase his zero from three record after Croker was carried off against the Sharks.

The bookies have pegged the Rabbitohs the favourites ahead of the game despite their 25-year drought of finals success, while the Raiders – who’ve now won six games in a row – are rated only a $2.85 chance as of Wednesday.

McFadden said the Bunnies will be out to prove a point after a lacklustre performance against Melbourne in the second qualifying final last weekend.

“They’re probably the best Rabbitohs team we’ve seen in a long time,” he said.

“They’ve going to be really fired up for this semi-final because they’ve got a lot to prove, but so do we.”