St George Illawarra may be closer to an elusive NRL title but backrower Jeremy Smith says he already considers himself a premiership winner - no matter what the record books say.

Smith was a member of the Melbourne side that won the 2007 grand final, a title that was stripped from the Storm along with their 2009 premiership after they were found to be systematically rorting the salary cap.

With the Dragons beating two of the biggest rivals for this year's title over the past fortnight in the Sydney Roosters and Manly, the red and whites have firmed in favouritism to clinch their first NRL crown.

Asked whether a grand final win would help ease the pain of having the 2007 title take off him, Smith was unequivocal in his belief that no-one could take away from what Melbourne achieved three years ago.

"Definitely not - I left there with great memories and what happened is what happened," Smith said.

"I went through the emotion and the excitement of winning a grand final - I've got the ring to prove it.

"I've got all the good memories - what more can you take - you can't take that away from me.

"When you've got something to show, you've got something to prove (you did it). I've got the ring to show and the ring to prove it."

Smith has played an integral part in the Dragons' resurgence over the past fortnight after a mini-slump in which they dropped three of four games.

He has played just 11 games this year because of a knee injury and only just worked his way back into the starting side at the tail end of the tough four-week stretch.

Now returned to his favoured lock position, Smith has added some starch to the Dragons forwards, a pack that is sure to be tested by a physical Canberra side on Sunday, the Dragons without a win in the nation's capital since 1999.

"Canberra's always a tough game ... (they) are a monster side," Smith said.

"You expect the unexpected from Canberra, you never know what you're going to get from them.

"We'll be preparing for another tough, physical match."

The Dragons can clinch a second straight minor premiership with victory on Sunday while the Raiders need a win to keep their finals hopes alive, the green machine just two points outside the top eight with three games remaining.

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