Last updated at 13:16, Thursday, 26 November 2009

THE might of Super League will clash head-on with the best in the Championship after Barrow lined up two big pre-season matches.

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Grand Final-winning Raiders will take on both St Helens and Huddersfield in the space of eight days in January, providing them with the perfect preparation for the defence of their crown.

They will travel to Knowsley Road on Sunday, January 17 for Mike Bennett’s testimonial match against Saints, before welcoming the Giants to Craven Park on January 24.

Raiders assistant coach Dave Clark – whose two bosses, Des Johnston and Steve McCormack, are both presently in hospital for operations, Johnston on his heart and McCormack on his shoulder – said the games would be a big draw for supporters and a great experience for the players.

“It’s fantastic for us to have these two games,” he said. “Once again, the achievements from this year have meant there is a lot of interest in Barrow RL.

“Other clubs can see that and it’s great to see that Super League clubs are asking us instead of the other way round.

“Huddersfield achieved a lot last year and it will be great to have them come to Barrow and experience what Barrow RL has to offer.

“It’s a great opportunity for the players and also for the local community to see Huddersfield come to town because they haven’t been here for a while.”

As well as the two matches with Super League opposition, Barrow are also close to agreeing to face county rivals Workington Town at Craven Park on January 3.

That would be followed by a potential weekend of warm weather training in Cyprus before the two big games, and then the start of the Northern Rail Cup group stages in the last week of January.

“Facing Workington and then the two Super League sides will prepare us well for the start of the season,” added Clark.

Bennett was in the Saints squad for their last encounter with Barrow in a friendly at Craven Park in 2004.

He is likely to be joined on the pitch for January’s match by former Raiders flier Ade Gardner, a Walneyite, who has established himself as one of the top wingers in Super League.

The Giants were voted club of the year in Super League this season after finishing third in the table under coach Nathan Brown.

They boast 2009 Man of Steel Brett Hodgson among their ranks, as well as England forward Eorl Crabtree – nephew of wrestler Shirley ‘Big Daddy’ Crabtree – and Gregg McNally, who terrorised Barrow and the rest of the Champoinship for Whitehaven this season.

Before going in for his quadruple bypass surgery in Blackpool today, Johnston said of the games: “St Helens are one of the big ones – one of the top sides in Super League.

“Huddersfield will bring as much of a full squad as they possibly can.

“That will be the big one – it will be great to have Huddersfield Giants here.

“The season starts the week after the Huddersfield game. Last season has gone and we have only got three things to do next year – win the lot.”

First published at 12:56, Thursday, 26 November 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk