PAUL Crarey is facing another anxious wait to see who will be available for Barrow Raiders’ second trip out to Canada to face Toronto Wolfpack on Saturday.

There are not expected to be problems with players attaining visas as was the case when Raiders headed across the Atlantic for their regular season encounter with the Kingstone Press League One side back in May.

But several members of the squad have been unable to get time off work to make the trip, and Andrew Dawson is ruled out due to a concussion, meaning the likes of Matty Holmes and Max Wiper could come in for their first appearances of the season following long-term injuries.

“I think we’re going to leave six to eight players here and we’re still waiting on a couple like Matty Holmes and Max Wiper who are going to have to play, but they haven’t had their visas applied for and that’s our problem, nobody else’s,” said Crarey. “We’ve got that points difference cushion and we’ll need it over there because I don’t think they were great against Whitehaven, but they did what they needed to do to get the job done, and if they win against us they’ll be champions.

“They’ll be all-out to put us to the sword, but we’ve got to manage that and make sure we’re on it, and really have a go at competing, which we’re going to have to do.”

Crarey will find out at training tonight whether or not Tom Walker and Lewis Charnock will be available to travel as well after both suffered head injuries in Sunday’s 36-14 victory at home to Workington Town.

That derby win all but assured Raiders of second place, coming on the back of third-placed Whitehaven having gone down 36-18 to Toronto the day before and leaving them four points behind with two games to play.

Barrow have a superior points difference of 360, compared to Haven’s 247, and Crarey was quick to hail his players for the way they have done so in the face of adversity on several occasions this year.

“We’re 75 to 80 per cent there of making second place and if you take Toronto out of the equation, we’d be near-on champions – and we’ve had it tough on the road with a group of 28 players,” said Crarey.

“We keep saying that, and we’ve done well in the Challenge Cup and won the League One Cup. I can’t praise these players highly enough for what they’ve done.

“They’ll be sore after Workington and then they’ve got a short turnaround on a flight to Toronto which is really going to take it out of us because we can’t get lads to take time off work.”

Furness Tile and Flooring League Top-Four Play-off fixtures: Tomorrow (7pm): Askam v Walney Central. Friday (6.30pm): Barrow Island v Roose Pioneers.