With just seven games to go plus a bye, the heat goes up several notches for the One New Zealand Warriors when they face the Raiders in tonight’s round 20 match at GIO Stadium in Canberra (8.00pm kick-off local time; 1.00pm NZT).

Head coach Andrew Webster generally has a routine response when mention of the ladder is made by the media.

But he said this week that the staff and players aren’t hiding from the challenge they have as they sit just outside the top eight lying 12th on 19 points, one behind the Raiders.

“We’ve got a big push now to the end of the season. The bye sets us up well for that but it has been a long two weeks,” he said.

“The future is key. We have to win. It’s extremely tight. We’re only two wins from the eight.

“We know what’s ahead of us. We’ve addressed it so we can stay present. It’s all in our control. We’ve got to win games, play well.

“Our performance and the way we go about it is the most important thing and then we’ll get the right outcome. We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’s not going to be easy but it’s so tight and a lot of the teams play each other.”

The Warriors and the Raiders enter tonight’s game in identical fashion, both coming off a bye and a loss.

“We know our opposition are going to bring their energy, they’re going to come after us, so we have to make sure we’re ready for that,” he said.

“We have to make sure we do what we do well, give ourselves the best chance and don’t get frustrated. Some of our games have been a bit tight and we haven’t got what we wanted. Just stick at it, stick at what we know works and be the best we can be.”

This will be the 52nd meeting between the two sides with the Raiders just ahead overall (26-25). The Warriors have won the last three clashes.