DAVID Cairns has a nice selection headache at Furness Raiders as they prepare for tonight’s College Rugby League Premier Division match at home to Hopwood Hall (kick-off 6pm).

The head coach was able to selected a 20-man squad for last Wednesday’s 22-16 win at home to Halifax ERA and again had 25 players at training on Monday evening.

Cairns is encouraged by the number of players he has at his disposal, but while he wants the team to keep their recent good run of results and performances going, he is mindful of ensuring everyone gets enough playing time as well.

“It’s really awkward and I don’t just want to make wholesale changes, I’ve got to try to keep the structure of the team,” said Cairns.

“I could put a new team in, but that wouldn’t be any good because we’d lose everything we’ve been working for.

“It’s one of those situations where you want to keep the spine of the team and the trouble is everyone is playing well.

“But I’ve got make changes because lads are coming training week in, week out and just getting 20 minutes or not being selected.”

Last week’s star man Zak Steel, who scored two tries against Halifax, is one of those moves to the bench for the visit of Hopwood.

Millom youngster Kyle Evans gets a chance at scrum-half and Alfie Thomas gets a chance at prop in place of Reece Bartlett, who drops to the bench.

And there is a welcome return to the squad for Cameron Hetherington as well, who is among the interchange players after a spell out injured.

Meanwhile, several of the Raiders squad got the opportunity of a run-out alongside other Furness College students in a rugby union sevens tournament in Manchester last Thursday too.

Tonight's opponents Hopwood sit just behind third-placed Furness in the table and are typically one of the strongest teams in the division.

But the Raiders are confident after beating the league leaders last week and Cairns was further encouraged by the performance after watching back the video of the match, feeling they could have won by more.

"We had a chance to have a look at the video of the game and there were a lot more chances we could have transferred into points as well, so that's promising," said Cairns.

"If we are creating chances, there definitely is more scope there for scoring points, so it was good."