MARTIN Aspinwall is proving a welcome presence around the Barrow Raiders squad again after returning from a long spell out due to a head injury.

The Raiders captain made his comeback in the final game of the Betfred Championship regular season at home to London Broncos two weeks ago and is set to lead the team again when Rochdale Hornets visit tomorrow.

Barrow head coach Paul Crarey is pleased to have Aspinwall and some of his other injured players back in the fold, particularly due to the influence the loose forward exerts on the team.

"Martin Aspinwall spoke really well at training and pulled them all in and said how important it is for this club to stop in this division, and have some pride back in our defence," said Crarey.

"When he speaks, everyone listens as well. He brings so much to the table and he's got that much respect off everybody.

"Jarrad Stack and Jono Smith, who have been out for a few weeks, are characters around the place as well."

Smith is champing at the bit to feature against former club Rochdale and fellow second row Stack should be playing as well, providing he can pass a concussion test following an enforced spell on the sidelines.

Declan Hulme faces a fitness test too, but Lewis Charnock's return has been put back another three weeks due to the injured shoulder which has sidelined him since week two of the season still not being fully healed.

Crarey admits that is a blow, but he is happy to continue with Ryan Johnston alongside Jamie Dallimore in the halves after the impact the former Dalton amateur has had since stepping into the Championship this year.

"That's bad news, but Ryan Johnston has been terrific for us and he's had a great year," said Crarey.

"He got us the win against Batley and hopefully he can do that, and we've asked him to keep it really simple.

"We just want to grind out the win and we don't want to try not to lose, we want to go out there and win the game.

"We'll probably go with a side we know, so some of the lads might be unlucky to miss out. But we just want to be really structurally good to put some pressure on."