Barrow Raiders coach Paul Crarey expects a tough encounter to open the season at Widnes on Sunday.
But Crarey believes he has the strongest squad the club has had and although they open with two away games, is looking for a positive start to the 2024 campaign.
“We have a couple of players missing but we will be taking a strong squad on Sunday. They are a creative group of players who are very much together so the team spirit is excellent and that can be so important.
“I watched the video of the Widnes game against Batley at the week-end and there wasn’t a cigarette paper between them. I think they will think themselves very unlucky to have lost it,” he said.
Crarey, whose side gave a very good account of themselves in 1895 Cup defeat at Wakefield, has named a squad of 21 for the trip to Widnes.
The return of skipper Jarrad Stack and James Greenwood to the pack is a big boost for the Raiders.
Squad: Max Anderson-Moore, Greg Burke, Max Clarke, Matt Costello, Luke Cresswell, Charlie Emslie, James Greenwood, Adam Jackson, Ryan Johnston, Harvey Makin, Finn McMillan, Mike Ogunwole, Ryan Shaw, Razor Silva, Aaron Smith, Jarrad Stack, Shane Toal, Brad Walker, Tom Walker, Tom Wilkinson, Josh Wood.
