The Raiders had a solid start to 2015, blazing their way through the inaugural Group 11 Nines competition in March, and finishing as runners-up.

But despite the strong start, only one Raider was selected in the Group 11 Western Rams side, and coach Guy Meredith said the boys now have something to prove.

"I think with one person - Jeremy Smith - getting picked in the Group 11 side - we weren't mentioned and obviously they don't think much of us but it just fuels the boys," Meredith said.

"People aren't expecting much from Macquarie. I think it's a good thing and lets us fly under the radar."

"We are definitely the dark horse of the league. We're happy to fly under the radar - that's our favourite place to be."

And while Meredith is definitely disappointed for the players that didn't make the 11's representative side, he said it may work in the club's favour later in the year, when clubs like Parkes and CYMS, who have four men each in the side, lose key players to representative duties.

"The rep thing is funny, because if they don't get picked they're disappointed but I'm happy because I get to have them all year now."

"Particularly the backrowers that have been overlooked - I'm disappointed for them but I'm not unhappy that I get to keep them."

"We won't have the disruptions that other clubs will have."

The Raiders had the bye last week, which was a good opportunity for players to make sure they are at full strength for Saturday's clash.

"[It] wasn't too bad because it enabled us to get over a few little niggles, to get healthy coming into round two," Meredith said.

"Anthony Egan, he's our front rower, our captain, he may not play this weekend (with a foot injury). We won't risk it if he's not right. We'll need him right for the following weekend."

"Everyone's happy with where we're at, we had a good pre-season."

Getting their positioning right has been the focus at training, with the whole team putting in the hard work to bring up their match fitness as well.

"We'll be running plenty of ball time. We really worked hard on fitness on Tuesday, and we'll run plenty of ball and focus on our shape. We'll run a lot of shape and get our positions right on the field."

"We're all set."

The coach is expecting a strong show from his more experienced players, and said the side will be looking to the likes of Chris Daley and Claude Gordon to direct them around the park.

"I'm expecting big things from Chris Daley and Claude Gordon - they're very experienced footballers and they'll lead us round the park."

"Claude will play at five-eighth and expecting him to drive us around the park and Jeremy Smith at nine - I don't think he can play a bad game."

And Smith will be expected to step up to the plate, if Egan is rested for the weekend.

"If Egan doesn't make it, with the foot injury, then Jeremy, the hooker will captain the side."

As for the back row, Meredith said they will be out to prove themselves on Saturday.

"I think our back row has got a point to prove," he said.

"The likes of Perry Meredith and Matthew 'Joey' Walker - they really performed against Parkes and didn't get a mention in the pre-season."

"They'll be good this weekend and they'll perform and they've got to be two of the best defenders in the competition. They're second to none."

"They were doing it against Parkes and they'll do it in Cobar."

And the boys will definitely need to be on their game on Saturday.

Cobar are coming off the back of a shattering 76-16 round one loss against the Spacemen at Parkes, but Meredith said this week, with the home ground advantage, the Roosters will be back at full strength and with something to prove.

"First and foremost we've got to focus on Cobar at Cobar."

"We're expecting them to be tough and we're expecting them to have a full side."

"We understand that when you play at Cobar you've got to really play [a full strength] Cobar - we've got to focus on that and play one week at a time."

And the road trip won't be a problem, with the side "pretty happy to get that out of the way early in the year".

Meredith said supporters are welcome to join the side on the bus to Cobar, which leaves at 7am on Saturday. The game kicks off at 3pm, Saturday at Cobar's Tom Knight Memorial Oval.