PAUL Crarey has the iPro Sport Cup final at Blackpool in his sights as he looks to bring early success to Craven Park next season.

Barrow Raiders have been drawn at home to Rochdale Hornets in the first round of the compeititon on Sunday, February 21.

Honours were even in League One last season, Hornets winning 48-12 at Spotland and Barrow claiming a 46-28 victory in the reverse fixture.

Raiders coach Crarey is taking nothing for granted against opponents who have appointed new coach Alan Kilshaw, who has had experience with Super League Warrington Wolves and in Australia.

Like Barrow, Rochdale have regrouped for 2016, and looking to the cup task and a potential final at Bloomfield Road on May 23, Crarey said: “We want to do well for the fans this year and, with the players we have got in, I am sure we will.

“But it’s a one-shot deal when you play these cup games, there is no second chance, you have to be on top form minute one to minute 80.

“Hopefully we can prepare well and be ready for Rochdale, but we know it will be a good test because they are one of the leading teams in the division.”

He added: “It will be tough. They have a new coach in there that has been at Warrington and had experience in Australia so they are going to be tighter and sharper than they have been, so we will have to be on our guard.

“But we are training really well, the atmosphere at the club is fantastic this year, more professional.

“Last year we put playing systems in, this year we put in a pre-session weights programme the lads have to stick to. Hopefully we will be stronger, fitter and more organised, and with the experience we have, we are looking forward to it.”

The iPro Sport Cup was introduced last season and won by North Wales, throwing up some exciting games. Crarey is anticipating plenty of tries from both Barrow and Rochdale when they clash this time round.

He said: “We are looking forward to the iPro Cup, we are looking forward to Rochdale coming down and I think it will be a great game.

“We want to get to the final, we want to do well in every game. We have got a big enough squad this year.

“When we hit the iPro Cup last year we probably had 18 players, we were still building our squad up. This year we have got a good squad and some great professionals as well. They have recruited pretty well as well, because, like us, they never made the five.”

l Barrow’s 2016 strip went on display at the club’s kit launch held at Barrow’s Central Club last night.

l Half-back Josh Ward has started working with Furness Academy as a second Raiders development officer. He joins Joe Bullock as part of the Skills for Schools programme.