Barrow coach Steve McCormack insists the Northern Rail 9s is no holiday.
Barrow have been drawn in arguably the toughest group, facing fellow Co-operative Championship sides Featherstone and Sheffield as well as Co-operative Championship One high flyers Oldham.
McCormack said: “We’re going to give the competition the respect it deserves. We’re not going to have a day at the seaside. We’re going there to do well.”
He added: “The competition gets very serious as it progresses, but we’re starting off in a really tough group in the first place.”
Barrow’s game against Oldham will open the competition. “Nines is a totally different format,” said McCormack. “We’ll take a good mix of really experienced players and some promising young lads that deserve an opportunity.”
James Nixon, Matt James, Chris Larkin and Richard Fletcher are out for Barrow, but Oldham have their own injury crisis.
Tony Benson has a mounting casualty list that includes Matt Ashe (collarbone and calf), Craig Robinson (back), Luke Sutton (knee), Marcus St Hilaire (groin), Lucas Onyango (ankle) and Paul O’Connor (neck). “Those guys are all pretty much definite non-starters,” said Benson.
He added: “Despite that, we’re taking as strong a squad as possible. Our reserves are also going well, and there’s a number of players that have been training with us that might be ready to make the step up.
“The Northern Rail 9s also provides a great opportunity for certain players to work on certain skills because of the nature of the game.”
Championship leaders Featherstone suffered no new injuries during their win over Leigh last Thursday, but Jessie Joe Parker remains absent on compassionate leave.
Eagles coach Mark Aston could be tempted to include former Barrow hooker Andrew Henderson, who joined the South Yorkshire club last week.
