Having played flyhalf for the Australian schoolboys and under-20s sides, Coleman will make his first professional start at No.10 in the Canberra Vikings' massive clash against the North Harbour Rays at Vikings Park on Thursday night.

Coleman  forms part of a new halves pairing, with Australian under-20s scrumhalf Joe Powell to wear the No.9 jersey and Michael Dowsett dropping to the bench.

The Queanbeyan product was confident of forming a good partnership with Powell, who he described as a no-nonsense player.

Hooker Lala Lam returns from concussion, with Tim Cree and Ruan Smith also returning from injury, while  winger Drew Southwell makes his first start.

"[Flyhalf] has always been my favourite position, just from training there and playing there I enjoy rugby a lot more," Coleman said.

"I love playing wherever I'm playing and I'm always going to give 100 per cent, but I definitely feel most comfortable at 10.

"Matty's a world-class player and he's the reason I stopped playing 10 when I first moved here.

"He's obviously off playing at the highest level ... he's really made the [Wallabies] 12 jumper his own."

Now sitting fifth, the Vikings have just three games remaining to force their way into the top four and a finals berth, with Coleman adamant the Vikings would be satisfied only if they won the inaugural National Rugby Championship.

They're coming off a hefty 34-13 loss to the undefeated Melbourne Rising, but Coleman felt there were some promising signs in the second half against the NRC's top side.

Coleman said the result had been a wake-up call for the Vikings, but he was confident of turning things around - hopefully in front of a packed house at Vikings Park.

"I don't think we can drop another game ... it's not a case of whether the talent's there, we've got an amazing roster, it's just we've got to click now and I want to take a lot of responsibility in making that happen," the Vikings vice-captain said.

"We want to win. There's no  making the finals and being [satisfied], we want to win this comp."

Vikings captain Fotu Auelua said the NRC had been great for Australian rugby and he hoped it would  become a breeding ground of stars, in the way the ITM Cup is for the All Blacks.

He said there were already players stepping up to the next level.

"Someone like Jerome Niumata, who's a club player but he plays like a Super Rugby player," Auelua said.

"He's someone who's really hungry and wants to improve and wants to make this his full-time career."

NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday: Canberra Vikings v North Harbour Rays, at Vikings Park, 7.30pm

Vikings team: 1. JP Smith, 2. Lala Lam, 3. Ruan Smith, 4. Tom Staniforth, 5. Jordan Smiler, 6. Tim Cree, 7. Jarrad Butler, 8. Fotu Auelua, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Robbie Coleman, 11 Drew Southwell, 12. Rod Iona, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 14. Jerome Niumata, 15. Jesse Mogg. Bench: 15. Connal McInerney, 17. Les Makin, 18. Allan Alaalatoa, 19. Rory Arnold, 20. Rowan Perry, 21. Michael Dowsett, 22. Isaac Thompson, 23. Matt Hawke.