Arthur hopes returning Brown eases reliance on Moses

Dylan Brown's return to the Eels backline after three months out with a back injury is a welcome one for coach Brad Arthur as he looks to reduce the reliance on Mitchell Moses in attack.

"Kick option helps. Mitch has been doing 90 per cent of our kicking and doing a good job there," Arthur said outside the Eels' Darwin hotel ahead of Saturday's round 15 game with the Raiders.

"It just takes a bit of pressure off Mitch and makes it harder for the opposition to defend," Arthur said.

Brown's return comes after 12 weeks out with a stress fracture in his back. Arthur said no further rehab was necessary as the 19-year-old had been training at full pace.

"He's got through training really well. I had a chat to him about our expectations.

"At the moment we've got to remember he's only played three NRL games; he's been out for a while.

"We just need him to do what he did before he got injured – take the line on, be a steady influence in the team and make his tackles.

"Reed [Mahoney] has done a good job [with kicking] helping out."

More help in the Eels' attacking business is on the way after the club completed the signing of Fiji international Waqa Blake on Thursday.

"We always want to strengthen our roster. I'm happy with the players we've got here but always looking to improve," Arthur said.

We've got to remember he's only played three NRL games

Eels coach Brad Arthur on Dylan Brown

"Waqa provides a little X-factor … the guys [Eels staff] had a look at him yesterday and they're thinking [round] maybe 19 or 20.

"He's a big body with a lot of speed ... we've just got to get the ball to him to help score tries, help create line breaks, create opportunities for people around them to score tries from nothing."

When added to wingers Blake Ferguson and Maiko Sivo and fullback Clint Gutherson, Blake's entry into the centres alongside Michael Jennings (currently out with knee injury) will give Arthur a powerful back five.

Even with Blake's purchase, Arthur still has a healthy bank account for more recruits in 2020.

"Once we get through the end of the season obviously we want to try and improve our squad again for next year," he said.

As for the Raiders in the tropics, Arthur doesn't believe the upswing in temperature will be any disadvantage for Ricky Stuart's men, especially his English imports.

"We trained here Wednesday night ... there's no advantage to either side," he said.

"We've had experience up here in the past, even though it will be nice and cool at that time of night the humidity is still high and the ball becomes greasy.

"So completions will be a big part of any team's success up here."

Canberra had a longer than expected trip north on Thursday having to go via Melbourne due to airline re-scheduling.