TO see the posters plugging the match tied to what seems like every lamppost, traffic light column and road sign all across the town, you would almost think Barrow Raiders have an important game coming up tomorrow.

You would, of course, be correct in that supposition because Paul Crarey's side stand just 80 minutes from earning a place in the League One Cup final and a trip to Bloomfield Road in Blackpool to contest the first silverware of the year.

Unsurprisingly, the club have gone all-out in an effort to get as many people though the gates at Craven Park as possible for the showdown with Oxford, which comes on the back of some impressive numbers travelling to the two recent Raiders away games (kick-off 2pm).

A healthy following to the win over Newcastle Thunder on Good Friday was followed by an estimated 240 – out of a total attendance of 904 – heading to Bootham Crescent to cheer on Barrow in the thrilling 50-28 Challenge Cup victory at York City Knights.

Chairman Mike Sunderland is delighted with the support the team have been attracting on the back of a 10-game unbeaten start to the season in all competitions and hopes that will translate into a bumper crowd tomorrow.

“The support has been brilliant – look at York last week,” said Sunderland. “We took three buses down there, the fans were so vocal as well and that's fantastic, so hopefully we can replicate that on Sunday and get people through the gate.

“These teams aren't produced out of nothing, we need the support from the public and if we're going to drive this club forward, we need people through the gate and we need sponsors coming on board.

“We've been very successful this season with both sponsorship and our cup runs, which we didn't have last year, and that's down to to hard work from the coaching staff right the way through to the players and behind the scenes. The board work hard as well and although people don't see them often, they are there.”

There is another big cup match on the horizon for Barrow as well following the draw for the sixth round of the Challenge Cup on Tuesday which handed the team a trip to Super League giants Leeds Rhinos.

The club have already filled eight coaches for the trip to Headingley on Sunday, May 14 and whatever the result, it promises to be a memorable day out for players, staff and supporters alike.

Sunderland concedes the League One Cup takes priority over the premier domestic competition in the sense that it offers a realistic chance of silverware.

But the money from a Challenge Cup run is a welcome boost to the finances and the win by Kingstone Press Championship part-timers Swinton Lions over Huddersfield Giants in round five means some will be daring to dream.

“The revenue side of it is a bonus for us and it's gratefully received,” said Sunderland. “We're going to take it seriously and we'll go and give them a game. It's a cup match, giant-killings aren't unheard of and we'll go there and give it our best shot.

“Probably, the League One Cup means more to us than the Challenge Cup. The Challenge Cup, we see as a way to earn revenue and a bit of excitement for the fans.

“But the League One Cup, we really want to do well in that and get to the final. It will certainly be no-holes-barred tomorrow to make sure we reach Blackpool.”

Barrow can expect to take another healthy following with them to Bloomfield Road on May 27 should they make the final, but the long-term challenge remains getting people through the gates for the week in, week out League One campaign.

The only home match to top the four-figure mark so far this season is the derby with Workington Town and Sunderland is optimistic the success currently being enjoyed by the club can translate into encouraging new fans to visit Craven Park.

“I know people like to watch a winning team and I think that's what we've produced this year, but it would be good if we could get supporters through even if we aren't doing very well at the time,” said Sunderland.

“However, that's life and we welcome everybody to the ground – not just the ones who are there week in, week out.

“We welcome any new supporters who want to come and watch; it's a fantastic day out, it's a great game to watch and this year I think we've proved that with what we've got out on the field.”