The Canberra Raiders are set to face the Cronulla Sharks in a crucial NRL semifinal, aiming to avoid becoming the first minor premier to exit the finals in straight sets since 2009. The match is a sudden-death contest, and the Raiders will be without their standout five-eighth, Ethan Strange, who has been sidelined due to illness.

Strange's absence is a significant setback for the Raiders, who are looking to build on their successful season. He fell ill overnight and will be replaced by utility player Simi Sasagi in the halves. Although Sasagi has had a strong year, he has never started a first-grade game in that position, having only played a few matches in the NSW Cup.

In response to Strange's absence, English recruit Matty Nicholson will join the bench, while Danny Levi has been promoted to the 18th man. The Raiders are hoping to rally together and secure a victory against the Sharks to advance to the preliminary finals.

The semifinal is scheduled to kick off at 7:50 PM AEST for viewers in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania. For those in South Australia and the Northern Territory, the game will start at 7:20 PM ACST, while fans in Western Australia can tune in at 5:50 PM AWST.

As the Raiders prepare for this critical matchup, the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos are already waiting to see who they will host in the next round of the finals. The stakes are high for both teams, as the winner of tonight's game will move on to the preliminary finals next Friday.