Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has called for the NRL to hand the Raiders a Sunday afternoon qualifying final, insisting the minor premiers deserve a fair shake in week one of the playoffs.
The league will confirm the opening weekend schedule after the regular season wraps up following the Knights trip down the M1 to play the Eels; however the Raiders have already begun mounting their case.
Canberra close their campaign against the Dolphins on Sunday, while Brisbane had the luxury of a Thursday fixture.
That sets up a potential six-day turnaround for the Raiders compared to nine for the Broncos if the game lands in the Saturday primetime slot.
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Should the minor premiers get to decide when they play?
Whilst the NRL faces a delicate balancing act in deciding next week's schedule, Ricky Stuart was steadfast in his stance that the minor premiers should get to decide when they play.
"We’re minor premiers, we need the maximum turnaround possible from the Sunday game," said Stuart in a recent media availability.
"Resting players is one thing, but I’ve still got players playing tomorrow that will be playing next week.
"We’re going to be playing against a team that’s got nine days [rest] so it’s an unbelievable advantage.
"That one extra day is what we deserve for being minor premiers."
Scheduling the Raiders-Broncos showdown on Sunday would hand Canberra the extra day they seek, but it would also shorten the loser's turnaround heading into week two.
Meanwhile, if the Warriors' elimination final against Penrith is slotted for Saturday, it risks clashing with the All Blacks' Test against South Africa in Wellington - a significant broadcasting headache.
Stuart, however, is focused on ensuring his side isn't disadvantaged at the start of their premiership push.
"We’ve earned the right to get that Sunday game," he said.