PAUL Crarey is aiming to fulfil the wishes of those Barrow Raiders supporters dreaming of a trip to Blackpool for this season's League One Cup final.

On the face of it, the knock-out tournament featuring all of the third tier's sides – bar newcomers Toronto Wolfpack – and National Conference League representatives Rochdale Mayfield might not seem like the most glittering prize up for grabs in rugby league.

But with just three wins needed to reach the final at Bloomfield Road on May 27, where it kicks off the Kingstone Press Championship's Summer Bash, it is a piece of silverware Barrow have a great chance of lifting and certainly not to be sniffed at.

Raiders head coach Crarey has been a regular visitor to the Summer Bash as part of the BBC Cumbria commentary team when Workington Town and Whitehaven were in the Championship and would now like to be part of it with his team, knowing how much it would mean to some fans.

“I went to get some fruit for the team and I came out of Aldi, and a guy shouts at me 'all I want is a trip to Blackpool!',” said Crarey.

“I said 'I'll do my best for you', but it's a little bit of luck, a good draw and lads not getting complacent.

“I'd love to take these fans to Blackpool and have a great day out. I go on commentary every year for the radio and I want to do it with this club and take them there.

“Whatever happens, whether it's just a competition for our division, it's a great day out for the fans. We'll probably get a good following there and fill one side of the stands.”

The Raiders get the 2017 season underway with their League One Cup tie away to amatuers Mayfield a week on Saturday, with their Challenge Cup campaign commencing the following weekend in the third round.

Barrow will find out their third-round opponents when the draw takes place next week, although their focus at the moment is only on preparing for the first competitive match of the year.

Crarey is expecting a tough encounter down at the Mayfield Sports Centre and knows his side cannot afford to take their amateur opponents lightly if they are to make progress in a competition which they have not progressed beyond the last eight in during the past two years.

“If the draws suit us, we will do well, but we've got to get past Rochdale Mayfield, and we're just looking at that and the League One Cup,” said Crarey, who is likely to scout out Mayfield when they head to Kells for this Saturday's Challenge Cup second round tie.

“We've got a break now before we go to Rochdale in the League One Cup. We're hoping for a fine day because it's a real small pitch there and (Mayfield coach) Matt Calland is a shrewd operator, and there will be everything in the book to stop us playing with fluency.

“We've got to go there and think of it being a war zone because that's what he'll create.”

Crarey is not worried about complacency creeping in for the cup tie though, having been pleased with the mentality shown by his side as they rounded off pre-season with a 48-14 win over Keighley Cougars last Sunday.

“If we get complacent and if you think you've done everything and don't have to work hard, you're in trouble,” said Crarey.

“But we're pretty level-headed as coaches and we keep the lads' feet firmly on the ground, no matter who they are.

“We prepare for each game as it comes and we know it's going to be tough for us to go anywhere in this league, so we'll prepare for that.”