PAUL Crarey will be keeping an eye out for incidents similar to the one which led to Jamie Dallimore being handed a lengthy suspension.

The Barrow Raiders stand-off was initially banned for six matches after being found guilty of dangerous contact with Workington Town's Macaulay Davies in the 41st minute of the derby clash on April 8, although that was reduced to five on appeal on Wednesday evening.

That means Dallimore will now be available in time for the Raiders' trip to Toronto Wolfpack in Kingstone Press League One on May 20, with the away game at Keighley Cougars being brought forward to May 10 also working in his favour.

However, Barrow head coach Crarey still believes it was a harsh punishment for his player and hopes the RFL will take the same action if similar incidents occur during the course of the season.

“It was a genuine accident and the panel have said that it wasn't intentional, and if it wasn't intentional then it was more clumsy,” said Crarey. “We're dealing without Jamie at the moment; he's a big miss to us, but other lads have got an opportunity.

"But now, the Rugby Football League have got to follow up what they've done and I'll be looking for it closely in any of the other games we play.

"Again, it hasn't stopped our flow and we haven't been beaten since that. It's probably pulled us tighter together, Jamie has trained hard and been getting around the squad, and really helping the halves and being enthusiastic.

“He'll be back and it will be like getting a new player back, but again it gives people an opportunity to come in and prove themselves, and prove they're part of this great squad.”

Dallimore accompanied the squad at York City Knights last Sunday despite serving the first match of his ban and is expected to be supporting them again at Craven Park tomorrow when the Raiders host Oxford in the League One Cup semi-final (kick-off 2pm).

In the meantime, Brad Marwood will continue alongside Lewis Charnock in the halves and Crarey was pleased with what he saw from the combination in last weekend's Challenge Cup fifth-round win.

A busy period coming up after tomorrow's encounter means the whole squad are likely to be getting a run-out in the next few matches and Crarey is keen to ensure there remains healthy competition for places in the squad.

“What we're doing is healthy, some players get a bit anxious and irritated by not being in, but we'll do what is best for Barrow Rugby League and not individuals,” said Crarey.

“Up to now, everybody in this squad has played and all done a job for us, so come the end of the season – whatever we do – every man in this squad has played a part in what has, up to now, been a successful season.

“We're not going to win all the time – people need to understand that. We're a League One team with a League One budget, we're not a big-spending team like everyone thinks we are.

“We've got a lot of ex-amateurs in our group, we've got some seasoned professionals, we've got some lads finding their feet, so we are are going to concede tries and we are going to lose games. But we're up there at the moment and long may it continue.”

After tomorrow, the squad will then have a week to prepare for three games in the space of eight days. That starts with the visit of South Wales Ironmen next Saturday, followed by the midweek trip to Keighley the following Wednesday and concludes with the sixth-round Challenge Cup tie at Leeds Rhinos on the Sunday.

The good news is Danny Morrow and Karl Ashall are both back to full fitness and in line to make their comebacks against South Wales, and Crarey expects any players brought back into the fold to maintain the standards the others have set.

“We'll probably rotate a few senior players and rest a few of our middles regarding the Keighley game,” said Crarey. “To be successful, us as a group – or any team – it's how you function when you have injuries or suspensions, not how you start the season at full-tilt.

“We've had long-term injuries, but we've coped well up to now. We've had 10 straight wins – with the friendlies, 15 – so we're going well.

“We've had a word with the lads about being focussed, being ready for the opportunity because if we give them one and they don't take it, we'll be reluctant to put them in again when a place becomes available. But having said that, they're a great group of kids and everyone is working hard.

“What we've said to the players who are playing is 'keep winning because it makes my job difficult', but we have to rotate because this group of 17 players will not go through the next five games.”