COACH Paul Crarey believes his pumped-up Barrow Raiders can make the play-offs after hitting form at just the right time.

Barrow go to Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium this weekend on the back of a stunning 34-12 victory over Rochdale which saw them start the Super 8s in some style, but Crarey is prepared for a tricky path ahead in the competition.

Leaders Toulouse reaffirmed their position as favourites for the play-offs following a 40-4 win over visiting Keighley Cougars on Saturday, and Crarey is hoping to see his side also establish themselves in the final five who will battle it out for the two promotion spots.

Victory by a 12-man Barrow over Rochdale, following the first half dismissal of Danny Morrow, saw them make it four wins on the bounce, and Crarey feels his side have hit form at the right time.

“We are looking forward to every game, there is a buzz about the place,” said Crarey ahead of the Doncaster clash. “We have hit some form, a little bit like last year.

“It took us a little bit of time to gel together and a little bit of adversity at the start of the year with weather conditions. But we have come through all that and now we are starting to become a little bit of a force.”

Doncaster, down to 12 men for almost an hour, edged a 21-18 win at home to Barrow in April. And looking ahead to Sunday's visit to South Yorkshire Crarey added: “We are just going to take every game as it comes.

"We don't know how they are going to shape up against us, we might have to change our tactics while the game is running which is always difficult to do.

“Nobody has won anything yet, we are only halfway through the season, we are in the Super 8s, nobody has been promoted. If you look now we are a win closer to Rochdale. We will have to see and take every game as it comes."

Crarey put his squad through their paces in preparation for the Super 8s as they built up their fitness and worked hard on goal-line defence, and he said: “We want to make the five, nobody is going to beat Toulouse as in the position, but we can make the five.

“We are one step closer, a couple more wins and I reckon we will make them so we have got to try and get those wins.

“We are not really focused on anything else apart from making the five, we are not focused on anybody else, we are focused on working hard.”

Crarey is hoping that the outcome of Morrow's dismissal minutes before the interval will be sending-off sufficient as he waits for word from the Rugby Football League.

Goal kicker Chris Hankinson was caught by shoulder charge against Hornets but despite a fear of concussion on Sunday should be fit to face Doncaster. There are injury concerns over Matty While, Shane Toal, Andrew Dawson and James Duerden.

However, it is better news for fellow impact forward Dawson with Crarey adding: “I think Dawson is a couple of weeks away from being available for selection.”

Bookings are being taken at the Rugby Shop, Scott Street, for a supporters coach to Doncaster this Sunday. The coach leaves Walney Prom at 9.30am and seats are £15.