PAUL Crarey is under no illusions about the size of the task Barrow Raiders face when they head out to Canada later this week for the clash with Betfred Championship leaders Toronto Wolfpack on Saturday.

This will be the third time the Raiders have made the trip across the Atlantic, having faced Toronto twice on their home soil in League One last year, and the third meeting between the sides in 2018 following an 8-8 draw at Craven Park in the league and a

16-12 win for the Wolfpack in the Challenge Cup.

Barrow head coach Crarey is likely to be sending something of a patched-up team out due to injuries still afflicting the squad, and while he is hopeful of having more than 15 players available as with last Sunday's 52-4 loss at Featherstone Rovers, he knows it will still be a huge test.

“It will take some guts to get on that plane this week knowing what's ahead of us and the fire-power they have got,” said Crarey.

“The flight kills you and the time difference is near-on impossible, but they've done it tough over here and I applaud them for results over here, and now it's their turn to get their own back on everyone else over there.

“We'll be ready for that; how we come out of it doesn't matter to us. If it's a big score, it's a big score and there's no shame in getting beaten by a big score out there because it's so difficult.

“We've probably played them more times than anybody else, there have been four points separating us in the two games this year and that was in the Challenge Cup where got a 90-metre try scored against us. That's all out of the window now because we are so busted up and looking to get some bodies back for the Halifax game.”

Crarey is likely to find out at training tonight which of his players will be able to make the trip, although Ryan Fieldhouse is definitely out due to starting a two-match suspension, Dan Toal is unavailable due to work commitments and loan signing Jonny Pownall cannot play against his parent club.

The Barrow boss has taken heart from the battling display away to Featherstone in adverse circumstances though, with the attitude of players like Shane Toal – who went off late on in that game with blood pouring from a head wound – summing up for Crarey the attitude in the squad.

“I spoke to him and he's pretty much busted up with his knees and everything,” said Crarey. “I said 'are you all right, son?' and he said 'I'll be ready for Toronto next week'.

“He's come a long way since we picked him up as a loose kid and we've moulded him. He's like his brother, Danny, who is really tough and he's done it tough. He's in his early 20s and he's got a good future at our club, and they're all good kids at our club.

“I've never met a better bunch and the travellers are great, and the team spirit in our camp is massive – and I think that's what has got us this far.

“We could have easily thrown the towel in and have 70 or 80 points put on us, but the people who were there understand the effort that was put in by our team.”