BARROW Raiders face their biggest test so far when they travel to the West of the County to face fellow championship side Whitehaven in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.

After cruising past Workington at Derwent Park last Sunday (28-8) the Raiders are back up the coast as they look to book their place in the quarter-finals with a trip to Wembley on the horizon.

Army recruit “Magic” Mike Ogunwole will be in the 17-man squad after being 18th man at Workington.

The enthusiastic armed forces player has soon become a fans’ favourite at Craven Park with his strong running and defensive work.

Head coach Paul Crarey is looking to rotate his squad against his Cumbrian rivals.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game, he said “Magic” Mike will come in and deserves a run out, he is a player in progress.

“I may look at one or two changes with some players carrying slight knocks.

“Shane Toal is one of them he has a niggling groin strain. I won't risk any players that are not 100 per cent fit.

“Tom Walker (an ex-Haven forward) probably won't be risked after picking up a foot injury in the pre- season friendly with North Wales Crusaders.

“Though the league season is a few weeks off I need 100 per cent fit players, so those that are carrying slight knocks have to be ready.”

Crarey will be keen to run the rule over several Haven players that have come in over the close season.

They have brought in around five or six lads from Australia so they’ll be settling into the English winter climate.

Will Evans returns for a second spell while big things are expected of globe-trotting prop forward Dalton Desmond-Walker.

Walker stands at 6’4” and comes in at 16 stones. He was part of Keighley’s promotion side of 2022.

Others from down under are half-back Lachlan Hanneghan, Owen McCarron and Papua New Guinea international Edene Gebbie.

Also in contention are former Barrow players Jake Carter, Rio Corkill and Perry Singleton.

Crarey added: “It is a game we are all looking forward too. It's always a tough tussle with Haven so we are well prepared.

“It could be much down the middle for both teams, but we want to get our backs into the action when the work is done up front.

“We had two close games with Haven last year, lost by two points at home then we won by one point on their patch, while we had a comfortable win in the Summer Bash.”