The Magpie trialled with 150 other hopefuls at Rugby League Park in Braddon two months ago, and playing lock, survived the first cut to a 34-man squad.

He was not alone, Trent Wilke from Yass, also bested more than 100 players to join Danilczak in the train-on squad.

Unfortunately when the axe was wielded again a week and a half ago, Wilke was one of the casualties.

Danilczak on the other hand, breezed through to the current number of 25.

There are 22 available positions in the final squad, which means Danilczak still has work to do to cement his spot. But the Yass High student is not afraid of hard work and believes he has given himself every chance to this point.

"I was starting lock in the first side in our trial [against Western Suburbs] and went all right," he told the Tribune.

"I was injured for our second trial against Illawarra but I'm pretty confident [of making the final squad], I just need to train hard when we start up again on the 5th of January."

The squad has been training three times a week and Danilczak expects the intensity to increase after the break.

"Yeah [it's going to get tougher] I don't want to put on too much weight over Christmas," he laughed.

It is the first representative team Danilczak has trialled for, a surprise to those that have seen the hard-hitting number 13 play.

"Because we're not in the ACT we have to go to the South Coast for rep teams and they're near impossible to make because they don't know you," he said.

Strong performances for Yass in recent years has seen the 15-year-old earn the attention of Raiders development staff and he says that has helped during the trial process.

"Some of the trainers know me and they've seen me play a few times including the grand final last year, so all that helps."