PAUL Crarey is taking a relaxed approach at Barrow Raiders as the intensity in the Kingstone Press League One promotion battle starts to increase.

The Raiders are already assured of a place in the play-offs thanks to a 30-28 victory away to Newcastle Thunder last Saturday evening and other results over the weekend going their way.

Crarey insists there is no pressure on the players from either him or anyone else at the club, with the Barrow head coach preferring a more hand-offs style which he believes is reaping rewards.

"They don't get any pressure from me," said Crarey. "That comes from the outside with the media and the fans, but they don't get any from me.

"You can't perform under pressure at anything because if somebody is stood over you and grilling you, you'll make a mistake.

"We try to take it off them and we're in a good position now; we're second in the table, we've got a good points difference and both us and Whitehaven have got to go to Toronto.

"It's just about ticking boxes for us and getting a win."

Keighley Cougars' 26-26 draw at home to Toronto Wolfpack means the Raiders are just two points behind the leaders as well, with four games of the Super Eights to play.

But rather than worry about a possible title push and automatic promotion, the next target for Barrow will be to try to secure a top-three finish which would guarantee home advantage for the semi-finals.

Crarey will find out at training tonight whether Andrew Dawson, Dan Toal and Tom Walker will be able to feature in this Sunday's home game with York City Knights after the trio suffered injuries in the win at Newcastle.

And while the Raiders boss knows they cannot afford a repeat of last Saturday's second half display against York, he will be happy with a win however it comes.

"It's a big wake-up call for us," said Crarey. "We were sat comfortable, then put the cue on the rack and it was like the Alamo in the second half.

"But they were at home, it's like us being at home and we'd have been disappointed to be 26-6 down at half time. They got a rocket, came out with everything and there were some big shots.

"But we got the win, we've made the five now and it's job done for us, so it's where we finish there now. We said to the boys, let's get it done and we've done it."