Canberra Raiders forward Joe Picker admits he's got a tough pre-season ahead to guarantee himself a start in next year's Raiders team.

The 20-year-old played 24 matches for the Raiders in 2008, becoming one of the side's most consistent achievers. He was rewarded with selection in the Prime Minister's XIII side that played Papua New Guinea in September.

And such was his performance in the lime green this year, his name should be one of the first picked in Dave Furner's side for 2009.

But the sudden form arrival of Rugby League World Cup winner Bronson Harrison has Picker more determined to train well this pre-season. Harrison, who was called into the New Zealand side shortly before the World Cup began, played strongly for the Kiwis on the way to shocking the Kangaroos in the final.

He played 54 minutes in the final, completing 29 tackles and seven runs.

Harrison's signing means the Raiders have eight players on their list who will battle it out for the two second-row starting positions, and a maximum of two bench positions.

Picker and Harrison are joined by Glen Turner, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Joel Thompson, Nigel Plum, Trevor Thurling and Josh Miller.

Picker said the depth in the forwards had everyone on their toes during training.

"With Bronson Harrison coming into the squad I think he will put a lot of pressure on us," Picker said. "There are a lot of back-rowers who can play good footy, Glen Turner will come back from injury so it's going to be tough to get a run."

Picker, who has trained with younger brother, under-20s grand final-winning five-eighth, Mick, said the pre-season was proving to be crucial.

He said it was easy to get back into the daily grind of training.

"I love training, I was missing it actually, the last couple of weeks of off-season I was hanging out to get back into it so I just love doing it, and it's been good fun since," he said.

"This time of year is important definitely not so much just to impress, but more to get the base where you have to play first grade.

"I'm still new to this but I already know if you don't train hard and work hard in this pre-season you are not going to be able to go 26 rounds in the NRL."

Raiders captain Alan Tongue, who has been nominated for the Rugby League Players Association players' player award, agreed with Picker that all positions were up for grabs.

He said the competition within the group was a positive this early in the pre-season."Watching the World Cup with Bronson coming back and [Australia's Joel Monaghan and Terry Campese] it's going to give the side a real boost so we are just looking forward to getting those guys back and into ball work."

And with the battle for positions heating up, Tongue said there was an air of confidence within the squad. "You don't go around putting too much pressure on yourself, but I think there is an expectation, we want to build on last year."