Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey is expecting a tough encounter in our Challenge Cup opener against Rochdale Hornets, but says that his side will meet the task with full confidence.

The Raiders venture to the Crown Oil Arena where they will face League 1 side Rochdale Hornets in the Betfred Challenge Cup Round 4.

The Hornets come into this game on the back of a 12-28 victory against Lock Lane in the third round of the competition.

Paul Crarey is expecting a tough encounter from the star-studded Hornets squad, emphasising the fact that the Raiders have only won once at the Crown Oil Arena, which was a close 30-32 victory to guarantee us the League 1 title last season.

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“It’s a tough ask, we’ve won once there since 2011 and that was when we had to win there to win the Championship last year, so we know how tough is it.

“They have got a lot of experience with Sean Penkywicz, [Gregg] McNally is there now, Fuifui Moi Moi and Rangi Chase; a star-studded team for that division so we know how tough it’s going to be.”

Crarey added that the fixture is made even more difficult due to the Raiders picking up several injuries to key players but asserts that his players are ready to meet the challenge head on and that no team should feel the pressure as they will come up against Super League opposition should they progress into the later rounds of the Challenge Cup.

“We’ve got some of our top guns out this week, so that will be a challenge for us. But we are going to go there full of confidence, we’re three from three [victories from games played] in the Championship so we’re looking forward to it.

“There’s no pressure on anyone because at some stage down the line, you’re going to meet some of the big boys [Super League opposition] and we’re looking forward to it.”

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Reminiscing back to fond memories of the Challenge Cup, Crarey states that coming up against the big teams can be financially beneficial to the club.

“We got Warrington a few years ago and went through, I thought we did really well against them. Then another year we played Leeds and they towelled us up [Raiders lost 72-10] I think we just got off the plane from Toronto and arrived to the game late due to a traffic jam leaving us only three minutes to prepare for the game.

“The Challenge Cup can be massive financially to any club that gets down the track and meets a big Super League team at home; I think we’d fill the place [Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium] if we did.”

Tickets for Sunday’s trip to the Crown Oil Arena can be bought through the official Rochdale Hornets website.