ELUSIVE link man Jamie Dallimore does not really mind who his partner will be in Barrow Raiders’ pivot role – as long as he gets the nod to face Rochdale Hornets in the opening Super 8s clash this Sunday.

The lively half-back has shared the job with Chris Hankinson for the last two games, but Dallimore insists he would be equally happy to line up with Josh Ward or Brad Marwood, both of whom have featured alongside him this season.

Hankinson has revelled in his new role since Raiders coach Paul Crarey switched him from centre, and his size and strength in defence looks to have helped Barrow’s cause ahead of the opening phase of the League One competition.

Raiders have won the last three games on the trot – admittedly two against minnows Hemel Stags and Oxford, but also a dramatic 34-32 victory at old rivals Keighley Cougars sandwiched in between.

Former BARLA Great Britain international Dallimore believes the partnership with Hankinson is working pretty well.

“Obviously we didn’t really get a test against Oxford and Hemel, but I think Chris has done extremely well considering he’s not played there. He has just adapted to it,” said Dallimore.

“When we were going into the Keighley game, most teams pass right to left strongly and it would have meant Josh Ward or Brad Marwood, who are littler than Chris, doing a lot of defending, so he (Crarey) opted to throw Hank in there and just said ‘you have got to defend’, and he has probably stuck with it because he has done so well.

“I have not had a problem playing with all three of them. I think all three have got good abilities in the game, it is just Cresta wants size in at half back to defend, and I think Chris is favourable for it.”

Asked if he was looking forward to renewing his partnership with Hankinson if Crarey opts to play him in the same position against Hornets, Dallimore replied: “Any of them as long as I’m playing, that’s all I am bothered about. Whichever one of the four of us it is, I am sure he will be good enough to do a job against Rochdale on Sunday.”

Like Hankinson, Dallimore has been putting in some strong performances for the Raiders and he said ahead of the first of the seven Super 8s games: “We can definitely get a result on Sunday and kick-start our play-offs.

“I think being realistic we probably won’t catch Rochdale in second but we can definitely leapfrog Doncaster and York and hopefully have a home tie in the play-offs, that’s being realistic as well.”

Hornets have beaten Barrow twice at Craven Park this season – in the iPro Sport Cup and in the league with the ex-North Wales Crusaders player facing them once this season in a Barrow shirt when they were on the wrong end of an 18-4 league defeat.

“We didn’t play well, so we owe them one, well we owe them two,” added Dallimore, who signed a two-year deal with Barrow this year.

Dallimore feels promotion is achievable for Barrow and said: “It has got to be with the players that we have got, the league table doesn’t lie. I would say as a group of lads we have probably under-achieved, let ourselves down a little. But being realistic I think Toulouse are the best team in the competition by a mile, but there is no reason why we can’t get second best.

“I am just looking forward to the second half of the season.”