LUKE Cresswell's versatility proved a huge asset for him during his first full year of professional rugby league, and the Barrow Raiders prospect is aiming for that to be the case again in 2018.

Although he joined Raiders after making his name as a full-back in the amateur ranks with Barrow Island, it was out wide where the former BARLA Under-23s international shone and established himself as a vital member of the squad.

Ryan Fieldhouse signing a 12-month contract with Barrow during the off-season means Cresswell may have to wait a bit longer for an extended run in the number one shirt.

But whether it is covering for Fieldhouse, or playing on the wing in place of either Shane Toal or Brett Carter, the network planner at BAE Systems is happy to take on whatever role head coach Paul Crarey asks him to as both he and the team adapt to life in the Betfred Championship.

"Because I'm going up to a new level again, I don't want to be like 'Yeah, I want to nail down that spot'," said Cresswell.

"I still need to show my versatility and, in a way, playing on the wing helps me with the way I play at full-back.

"Hopefully, by the end of the year, I'll be able to nail down a position, but it will probably all depend on injuries and form. We're always going to pick up injuries, so it's which position I have to cover in.

"Hopefully I can get to nailing down a position – that's kind of the aim – but it's just taking my opportunities and show my versatility at this moment in time."

Cresswell had already shown more than a few glimpses of his potential when thrust into action on debut away to Toulouse Olympique mere weeks after signing for Barrow in 2016, and then again during pre-season last year.

But it was being handed a start away to top amateur side Rochdale Mayfield in the first round of the 2017 League One Cup which saw his career really take off.

An impressive performance, which Cresswell capped with a try, led to further opportunities and being on the field for some of Raiders' most memorable moments of the year – including the League One Cup final win over North Wales Crusaders and the Challenge Cup tie away to eventual Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.

He scored tries in both of those too, finishing the year having crossed the whitewash 15 times in 20 appearances. Indeed, a broken hand suffered midway through the year proved to be the only negative.

"It probably would have been perfect if I hadn't broken my hand, but I can't complain about it, because it was superb," said Cresswell. "It wasn't just scoring tries, it was winning the League One Cup final, playing at Leeds and obviously getting promotion topped it off.

"I probably went into the campaign trying to just take my chances when they came, and it was the friendlies where I earned myself the right to get into the team, and then I just carried it on.

"It's probably going to be the same as last year going into it; It's a new level again and different opposition, so I'm just going into it open-minded and I'll see how it goes."

Whether there will be a place for Cresswell in the squad for tomorrow's Championship opener away to London Broncos remains to be seen, although he is relishing the chance to test himself at this level, whenever it comes.

He is realistic about Barrow's prospects for 2018, recognising that maintaining their place in the division is the priority above all else following their promotion via the play-offs.

Cresswell sees the trip to play the full-time Broncos on their 3G pitch at the Trailfinders Sports Ground in Ealing as a good learning experience for the squad as well.

Yet at the same time, he is quietly confident Raiders can not only show their ability to compete with the fully-professional teams in the Championship, but also cause one or two surprises against them throughout the campaign as well.

"It's going to be a good test," said Cresswell. "I think we're all looking forward to playing on a dry pitch as well.

"It's just getting some experience and hopefully challenging ourselves against probably one of the better teams in the league.

"Obviously after getting promotion, the first aim is staying up. It's always going to be, but all of the part-time teams, it's like a mini-league in itself.

"We'll try to beat them and do our best against the full-time teams. Hopefully we can scrape a few wins against the full-time teams because we've got a good enough team to shock a few, I think."