"There's still so much I can learn from the older boys, but I'm getting to a point now where I want to try and push for a spot in that 17 regularly. I got that little taste last year.

"I'm hoping to get somewhere around 10 games this year, try and get in there a bit more often and put my best foot forward when I'm in there."

But it won't be easy for the second rower with the Raiders boasting a raft of world-class edge forwards in their squad.

Elliott Whitehead, Joe Tapine and Josh Papalii are all elite second rowers, plus Sia Soliola can play there as well.

Now they've added England forward John Bateman to their list.

Bateman was named the third-best second-rower in the world rankings earlier this month.

"He's definitely a classy player. He can play on the edge and maybe even in the centres as well from [watching] some of his Tests in England," Murchie said.

"You only have to look at where he's ranked in terms of the second-rowers' world ranking. I think he came in third or something.

"That shows you enough that he's definitely going to be a great player for the club.

"That's a good thing for me, that's another great player that's coming in and I can tuck in and learn little bits from him and that'll make my game better."

Murchie said he can also play in the middle, as well as on the edge.

Prop Liam Knight left the Raiders to team up with super coach Wayne Bennett at South Sydney, while big boppers Shannon Boyd (Gold Coast) and Junior Paulo (Parramatta) had already left.

But Murchie didn't think Knight's departure would boost his chances of achieving his goal.

The arrival of English duo Bateman and Ryan Sutton has bolstered the Raiders' depth.

"You could look at it that way [that Knight's departure provides an opportunity], but then we've got quality forwards coming over from the UK who will slot straight into that position so it doesn't really change anything," Murchie said.

"I'll just go about training the same way I always do. Do my best and that will hopefully get me in there."

Murchie felt the reduction of the scrum clock from 35 to 30 seconds might affect the forwards - time they'd normally use to catch their breaths.

But he backed the Raiders' fitness staff to have them ready to cope with the change designed to speed up the game.

The Raiders have a more mobile, trimmed-down forward pack, which Murchie thought would also help.

"At the scrums everyone's trying to suck in their breath, but we do plenty of fitness out here  so I'm sure we'll be fine with it," Murchie said.

"We've lost a couple of big boys in Shannon Boyd and Junior Paulo, but we've got some great mobile forwards Ryan Sutton and John Bateman coming over from the UK, who are both class players so that should help us."