PAUL Crarey wants a ‘squeaky clean’ Barrow Raiders performance as they look to get their Super 8s campaign off to a winning start against Rochdale Hornets at Craven Park tomorrow (kick-off 3.30pm).

The Raiders boss feels the side have paid a heavy price so far this season because of ill-discipline – a situation he is keen to rectify, especially at this stage and with so much at stake.

Barrow feel they are still in with a shout of going up and will aim for at least fifth spot at the end of the Super 8s to give them a fighting chance of battling it out for one of the top-two places in the next phase of the competition.

The Raiders finished fifth in the regular season, leaving them facing four games on the road. But victory over second-placed Rochdale could be just the platform Crarey needs to build on, especially with games at Doncaster and York – if the City Knights survive long enough to compete, after announcing this week they may have to fold – to follow.

Whatever the outcome, Crarey is determined he and his side enjoy this stage of the season as the competition unfolds.

He feels Barrow are the form team going into the Super 8s and it is expected he will stick with the players who have done well for him so far.

“There are seven games to go, we have got games we can win at home and games we can on the road so we have just got to prepare for each game as if it’s cup final and try and make the five,” said Crarey.

“If we stay where we are now we get the chance of a play-off game. There is nothing between the top eight really. I think there are two points between us and third place, which is nothing.

“We are looking to win every game, but you are not guaranteed anything. It depends on the day, anything can happen in play-off football.

“Everybody is going to be at their best. There is no easy week, every week is going to be real hard, none harder than Rochdale at the moment, who have beaten us twice already but the weather was against us the last time and a lot of penalties.

“Ill-discipline has cost us this year so we have got to be squeaky clean this weekend and try and beat Rochdale with football.

“Defensively they are very good but we can break them down. We’ve watched York who took them to pieces so it can be done, but they played really well against Toulouse.

“We are going to take every game as it comes and try and make the five and then anything can happen.”

Crarey will be looking to players like goal-kicker Chris Hankinson, hooker Nathan Mossop, who came off the bench with devastating effect against Oxford and in-form try-scorers Andy Litherland and Danny Morrow to maintain their form against the Greater Manchester outfit.

He said: “Everybody at the club has had the chance to show us what they can do but we are going to go with the lads who have done well for us.

“And the other lads will have to chomp at the bit for their opportunity and they certainly will in these seven games because I think we will pick injuries up every week now until the end of the year.”

His squad have worked hard during their time off in preparation for the Super 8s, with Crarey adding: “We are ready for Sunday, we have trained very hard over these last two weeks and this week will be more of a comedown week and loads of a structure. We want to win for the fans and I think we will get a lot of people in the ground.

“There is a little bit of a buzz about the game, I think everybody will get behind us. I think it will be a cracking game if it stays fine and hot, it will be a good day to play some good football.”

James Duerden, Andrew Dawson and Matty While are recovering from injury, while there are doubts over winger Shane Toal who has an ankle problem.

l After enjoying his time as sponsor of Chris Hankinson, lifelong supporter Ray McGuire is offering the chance for other fans to back the outstanding player for the remainder of the season.

Anyone interested in taking on the sponsorship should contact the Rugby Shop, Scott Street, or call 01229 824454.