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Star Canberra centre Joey Leilua is expected to overcome a leg injury and play in the NRL grand final.

Canberra star centre Joey Leilua will be named and is expected to play in the NRL grand final against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.

The Raiders confirmed Leilua suffered a lower leg contusion in the 65th minute of their preliminary-final victory against South Sydney last Friday.

Leilua is the only Canberra player with grand-final experience after he played for the Roosters as an 18-year-old in their losing effort against St George Illawarra in 2010.

The reigning Dally M centre of the year has already come back from a career-threatening neck injury earlier this year which saw him miss 15 games.

If Leilua is scratched later this week it will see Bailey Simonsson start on the wing and Nick Cotric move into the centres, while Ryan Sutton or Siliva Havili will get the bench spot.

Canberra premiership player Glenn Lazarus backed Leilua to play but said the Raiders' depth will hold them in good stead if not.

"When it comes to injuries there are two types of players, ones that can play with injuries and ones that can't," Lazarus told AAP.

"But it also depends on the injury. There has been guys play with broken arms and you can sort of protect that but a calf, if it's vulnerable, you're taking a big chance.

"It's a big risk because he could do it running out onto the ground and all of a sudden you're down to 16 men in a grand final.

"The club and Joey will make a decision late in the week and I know they'll make the right decision for the team.

"It will be a luxury if we get a fully fit Joey Leilua on the paddock but if they have to they'll get someone more than capable to replace him ."