BRAD Walker says the Barrow Raiders squad are aiming to be the best versions of themselves when they face Wakefield Trinity in the quarter-finals of the 1895 Cup today.

 

Having beaten fellow Cumbrians Workington Town and Whitehaven to reach the last eight, Raiders are now just two wins from Wembley.

 

But before anyone can think of a place in the final they must find a way to overcome a Wakefield side that was playing in the Super League last season.

 

Having gone out of the Challenge Cup against Oldham in their last game, Raiders are looking to bounce back against Trinity.

 

Speaking to the club’s official website, Walker said: “The last game against Oldham didn’t really go to plan – I thought that in the first half the lads executed the plan correctly, and then the second half just didn’t go as we wanted.

 

“But that’s done now, and we’ve got an even bigger challenge away at Wakefield. We’re all excited.

 

“We know that we’re the underdogs going into the game, but we don’t feel like that. We fully believe we can go there and get the job done.

 

“Cresta has put a lot of faith in us and given us a lot of freedom to throw the ball around. He wants us to be the great entertainers this year – not to just go to places and play boring rugby.

 

“We want to go into every game testing teams and showing them how skilful we are, because we’ve got a lot of quality and power in our squad.”

 

The game sees a return to his old stomping ground for Walker, who made 25 appearances for Wakefield between 2020-22.

 

He added: “You play rugby because you want to play against the best players, so when you get a chance to play in a big occasion, in a quarter-final against probably the best team in the Championship who are tipped to go straight back into Super League, it’s where we can test ourselves.

 

“I think that coming up against your old club probably adds to the nerves that you feel before the game too, because I want to impress.

 

“I’ll be going out with a point to prove. It’s probably a good thing for me to come up against the competition’s favourites, to show them what I’m made of and that I’ve still got the ability to play in the Super League.

 

“I just need to keep my head down and keep working hard. Cresta has been really good with me – he’s put no weight on my shoulders and has given me the freedom to play.

 

“I’m really enjoying my time at Barrow and the challenge ahead of us this weekend.”