STRONG-RUNNING forward Jamie Tracey could be just the tonic Barrow Raiders need as they bid to secure a top-five play-off place in Kingstone Press League One.

Barrow, sitting in the fifth and final play-off place, take on North Wales Crusaders tomorrow, and the 21-year-old has arrived just at the right time for the injury-hit squad.

Raiders’ numbers crisis worsened this week, with coach Paul Crarey sweating over the fitness of winger Shane Toal, his brother Dan, and loan forward Anthony Bate.

There could also be doubts over Millomite prop Andrew Dawson, who suffered a swollen knee last week and as a result was unable to feature in the victory against London Skolars on Saturday, with his place being taken by Joe Bullock.

Bullock had been due for a rest as he battles to overcome a shoulder problem but put his hand up to play.

Crarey’s troops have been dropping like flies as the campaign takes its toll and he said he had just 18 fit players available to face Skolars.

Barrow lost prop Matt Heaton for the rest of the season in June after injuring his right shoulder during his team’s win against Coventry Bears, while concussion victim Askamite Jamie Butler has yet to feature for the Raiders in the league after picking up knocks in pre-season.

Raiders have also seen winger Lee Haney retire, while Ruairi McGoff was released to return to amateur club Ulverston.

As a result Crarey had been looking to bring another forward on board with Tracey fitting the bill. Barrow are also poised to return to Leigh as they look to bring another player in on loan from the Championship leaders and hope to make an announcement early next week.

No decison has been been made on at which stage Tracey will appear against North Wales as Crarey weighs up his options against a side who defeated them 24-16 in Wrexham in May.

“He is only a young lad, a bit like Joe Bullock in stature so we are going to give him an opportunity,” said Crarey. “We have got him until the end of the year.

“He is fresh and at the moment we are down to our bare bones and have to play people everywhere, where they shouldn’t be, just to function and remain competitive.

“We will definitely need him because we have got a pretty bad injury list. Shane Toal has got a virus, Dan (Toal) has got a bad ankle, he is struggling. Anthony Bate’s back is still causing trouble, we will have to see what the physio says about that.

“We are in a bad shape at the minute, but I am sure we will be very competitive at the weekend.”

Looking ahead to the clash against, Crusaders who defeated South Wales Scorpions 56-10 last week and sit third in the table, Crarey continued: “It will be a big test for us this week because I believe there are a few dual reg in from Warrington and they are at full strength.”