KARL Ashall is excited by being able to test himself against players with experience of higher levels, both in this country and overseas, in the Betfred Championship this year.

Tomorrow sees Barrow Raiders take on another side stocked full of players who have played in Super League and Australia's National Rugby League, in the form of Leigh Centurions.

It was a similar story when they took on Toronto Wolfpack last Sunday, and Ashall cannot wait to see how he and his team-mates fare against another of the Championship's promotion favourites, after holding the Canadians to an 8-8 draw.

“You'd like to think that whatever player are, whatever profession you are in, you want to play at the highest level possible,” said Ashall.

“That's why we wanted to get promoted last year; we deserved it, we got our shot and we got promoted. Some of these players are ex-Super League and they've been around, and some of them are NRL players.

“To say you've played against these sort of players and given a good account of yourselves, it's a pretty proud feeling to play against a player you may have looked up to at one stage in your career.

“To be testing yourself against some of the best players in this league, who have been about, it really is great.”

Leigh are aiming for an immediate return to Super League, having been relegated from the top-flight after just one year following defeat to Catalans Dragons in the Million Pound Game last September.

Among some of their more eye-catching signings from these shores over the off-season were Warrington Wolves three-quarter Rhys Evans, and Castleford Tigers pair Ben Crooks and Kevin Larroyer.

Centurions chairman and owner Derek Beaumont has also provided head coach Neil Jukes with the funds to bring in six players from the NRL, including Papua New Guinea international Kurt Baptiste and Samoa Rugby League World Cup squad member Peter Mata'utia.

Beaumont and Jukes both came in for criticism from the club's fans following a heavy defeat to Toronto in the opening game, but the team rebounded with a 34-6 win over Batley Bulldogs last week – a match where the chairman had defended his coach in the match-day programme.

“The day I believe that Neil isn’t the right person for the job or is restricting our opportunity of returning to Super League and being competitive, I will do what is required and replace him and he is fully aware of that,” wrote Beaumont.

“He is a genuine, honest, very hard-working man who lives and breathes this club, and genuinely cares for it.

“It’s easy to kick the coach but in the end, it’s the players’ performance that needs to be addressed.”