He's the cult hero who hasn't even played a game in the NRL, but Kato Ottio is determined to break into a star-studded Canberra Raiders back line to show he can live up to the hype.

The former Papua New Guinea volleyballer, Ottio, is racing the clock to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament to make his NRL debut.

Kato Ottio has yet to make his NRL debut but was at the Auckland Nines launch on Wednesday. Credit:Peter Rae

Flying winger Ottio lit up the NSW Cup last season, scoring 29 tries in 23 games before his first year in rugby league came to a shattering halt when he injured his knee.

The 105 kilogram beast hopes to make his comeback in the first two months of the Raiders' season next year and wants to compete with Jordan Rapana and Edrick Lee for a wing spot.