IN-FORM Barrow Raiders will clinch their place in the League One promotion play-offs with a win over Hunslet Hawks at Craven Park on Sunday.

Their 20-6 victory at York means that Paul Crarey’s men can kill off the top-five hopes of the Hawks, as well as their next opponents London Skolars and Keighley Cougars, guaranteeing, at worst, fifth spot and a crack at promotion.

The win was the Raiders third in the Super Eights following victories over Rochdale Hornets and Doncaster, and prompted coach Crarey to say: “We are the form team and we have a winning culture at the moment and that can be hard to break.”

And things could get even better for the Raiders if other results go their way at the weekend. York would fall further behind with a defeat at Rochdale, while Doncaster take on leasders Toulouse, who are bidding to go through the season undefeated.

A third placed finish would earn Barrow a home tie in the play-off for the second promotion spot but Sunday’s game also means a lot to Hunslet following their 36-24 home defeat by Doncaster on Friday noght.

Coach Matt Bramald knows that a victory at Craven Park is essential to keep their season alive. He said after the setback against the Dons: “We were poor and we struggled to complete our sets, but all is not lost. Now we will have to win at Barrow.”

The two sides have met twice this season - both games ending in big home victories.

The Hawks knocked Barrow out of the Challenge Cup, winning 46-12 at the South Leeds Stadium on February 28th. Two weeks later at Craven Park the Raiders got ample revenge taking the League One clash 40-6.

Remaining Fixtures for the Top Five: Toulouse: Doncaster (a), Rochdale (h), London Skolars (a), Hunslet (a), Barrow (h). Rochdale Hornets: York (h), Toulouse (a), Doncaster (h), Hunlset (h). Barrow: Hunslet (h), London Skolars (a), Keighley (h), Toulouse (a). Doncaster: Toulouse (h), Keighley (h), Rochdale (a), London Skolars (h) York (a) York: Rochdale (a), Hunslet (h), London Skolars (h), Keighley (a) Doncaster ((h)