When Swinton Lions welcome rugby league's first transatlantic team to Heywood Road on Sunday afternoon, it won't just be a clash between one of the most historic clubs in the sport and the new kids on the block - Toronto Wolfpack will be taking on a side older than the country they themselves hail from!

The Dominion of Canada was officially formed on July 1, 1867 - nine months or so after the members of Swinton Cricket Club turned to rugby to keep themselves occupied during the winter months.

And it's fair to assume that at few points over the long and storied history of the club would fans have expected to see their side taking on a team based some 3,400 miles across the Atlantic. But then, in the midst of last season's well-documented financial woes, many will have wondered if they would even have a club to support this season.

That they do is thanks to a significant fundraising effort from supporters themselves coupled with the work of the board of directors, led by chairman Andy Mazey, who took on the role at the end of last year.

"I came in in September when the club had been through a really, really tough period," he explained. "I helped them out through that period financially and with some support for the directors that were left there.

"We got to a certain point and did really well and we said 'we've got to draw a line in the sand and move it forward'. We've rebuilt from September last year.

"We're not in the position we'd like to be in terms of salary cap and spend - we'd like to spend a bit more and have some more depth and quality in the squad - but we're at the start of an exciting journey."

So when the Wolfpack - and the television cameras that follow them - roll into town this weekend, the club hopes to welcome a bumper crowd, enticing fans of other teams with offers of £10 entry for Super League season ticket holders, and free admittance for under 16s.

"It's amazing the amount of people that have come up to me and said 'I've never been to a game before, but what's all this about Toronto?'," said Mazey.

"I feel it's a way for us to let people know what Swinton are all about, too. We have got the heritage - there are a lot of clubs in Super League that don't have the history that we have."

On Toronto's charge through League 1, ex-Leigh Centurions forward Fuifui Moimoi became a cult figure, with wild hair and barracking runs exciting the Canadian audience. But he left the club on the eve of the season - and very nearly found himself lining up against the Wolfpack this weekend.

"A couple of our experienced forwards - Andy Thornley and Ben Austin - are injured, so we had to look at our options. I spoke to Fuifui as a bit of a stop-gap, but we couldn't quite get there on a deal."

(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire)

While there have been some dissenting voices towards the 'Toronto experiment' among the sport's traditionalists, Mazey considers the Wolfpack to be "a breath of fresh air".

"Lots of people have got opinions on it, but I'm of the opinion that anything that raises the profile of our sport is good, it deserves to be seen by a wider audience and Toronto bring worldwide coverage. They've got the TV deal with Premier Sports, which is hopefully getting the sport seen by people who wouldn't normally see it."

As well as the boost to the wider profile of the game, a good example of the short-term impact a visit from the Wolfpack can have was demonstrated by York City Knights last season, who implemented a strong marketing campaign around that fixture and subsequently enjoyed a record attendance at their Bootham Crescent base. It is an example Swinton are very keen to follow.

"I was up at [RFL headquarters] Red Hall last year and got introduced to York's chairman John Flatman," explained Mazey. "We had a good chat and he spoke about the campaign they ran on social media and the way they tied up with Toronto's communications people.

"Ultimately it benefitted York as a club because they got a good gate on and some coverage and exposure, but it also got the sport some exposure as well. Hopefully we can do the same."