PAUL Crarey is not fazed by the prospect of Barrow Raiders facing a return to Whitehaven in the Kingstone Press League One Super Eights following their derby defeat.

The 32-6 loss at the Recreation Ground last Sunday saw Haven pip the Raiders for second going into the next phase of the season, earning home advantage for the next meeting of the two in the process.

The date for that clash will be announced tomorrow when the fixtures for the Eights are released, but Barrow head coach Crarey does not believe the result will have much bearing on the rest of the campaign.

“It doesn’t define our season,” said Crarey. “All it does is mean they’re second and we’re third, and we’ve got to go to Whitehaven again and have a chance to redeem ourselves.

“We also play Workington at home and looking at the draw, it doesn’t really matter whether you finish second or third.

“We know what to expect, and hopefully we can learn from our experience and come to do a job at Whitehaven next time – or even compete better than we did.”

Another trip out to Canada to face unbeaten leaders Toronto Wolfpack and a return to Newcastle Thunder are on the cards for the Raiders in the Eights as well.

Conversely, York City Knights, Doncaster and Keighley Cougars are the teams due to visit Craven Park along with Workington.

The Raiders squad will undergo a light session and a video review of the Whitehaven defeat at training tonight, before being given a week off in preparation for the Eights getting under way on the weekend of July 29 and 30.

Crarey will also get a further update on the status of Dan Toal, who was carried off with a knee injury sustained in a collision with an opposition player during the second half of Sunday’s game.

Toal, who can play either in the second row or at loose forward, has been one of the unsung heroes for Barrow during his 17 appearances so far this season and Crarey will be hoping it does not turn out to be a long-term injury.

“It looks like he’s got a knee problem,” said Crarey. “I thought it might have been a dead leg at first, but it was pretty severe when he came off.

“He had to be carried off and it’s not like Dan because he’s a real tough cookie and I thought he went well. He was a big plus for us through the middle.”