PAUL Crarey concedes the effects of travelling are his biggest concern over the prospect of Barrow Raiders playing Toulouse Olympique in back-to-back away matches.

Last Saturday's 54-4 victory over London Skolars lifted the Raiders up to second on points difference in the Kingstone Press League One standings, further raising the prospect of having to travel to go to the South of France for the promotion play-off a week after facing Toulouse in their final Super Eights game.

Raiders head coach Crarey is not fazed by the prospect of his side having to tackle the unbeaten table-toppers two weeks running, but is concerned about how much having to fly back and forth to Toulouse will take out of his players.

“Anything could happen and we're not going to give up the ghost,” said Crarey. “The biggest thing is the travel. We've got to go to Manchester, or wherever we fly from, and I think one of the teams had to go to Belgium and get another flight.

“To come home on the Sunday night or Monday, then go again on the Thursday to France and play after travelling is a massive disadvantage to anyone.

“Everyone is going to moan if they've got to go to Toulouse twice, probably no-one expected us to go on the run we've gone on now where we've gone eight unbeaten and lost four out 19.

“We'll just keep going and cross every hurdle or challenge that's thrown at us, and see where it ends up.”

Before any of that happens though, Barrow still have to play Keighley Cougars at home and Crarey is well-aware they must first win that game to secure a top-three spot, particularly with Rochdale Hornets and Doncaster still breathing down their necks.

Those two face each other next weekend, while Doncaster have a game in hand as well following the postponement of their trip to York City Knights at the start of the Super Eights.

Crarey acknowledges the Raiders will be up against it if they end up travelling to Toulouse for the promotion showdown, but the team would still get a second bite of the cherry via the play-offs if they lose and the coach is delighted with how his side have progressed in 2016.

“Toulouse haven't lost over there, it's a very difficult place to go and win - especially with them going for it,” said Crarey. “I think they want to remain unbeaten and they're thing is to go to the next level, which they will do. We just want to keep going as we are.

“It's going to be a really tough end to the season for us if we finish in that second spot, but there is a bit of football to go until all of that.

“I think we've had a great season with a bit of adversity we've had and the young lads coming in from the amateur game, and - as I keep saying - it's a great place to be at the moment and the place is buzzing.”