Barrow Raiders will have to reach new heights in their survival struggle in the Betfred Championship when Toulouse hit town tomorrow.

But coach Paul Crarey will send out a team brimming with confidence, under no pressure and without fear.

“We are really looking forward to it,” he said. “The pressure is all on them. They are a full-time team, gearing up for a push to make the top five. We are in this division on merit and we have to compete against the top teams, not just target those around us.”

The French side, second in the table, have fond memories of their last visit to Craven Park a year ago – they flew home with two points and a massive 72-6 victory in their luggage.

Things have altered a lot since that dark day last July and the mood in the Barrow camp has changed in recent weeks.

“I have been proud of the lads over the last five or six weeks,” said Crarey.

Wins over Halifax and Featherstone and that agonising single-point defeat by Leigh at St Helens on Wednesday have lifted confidence levels and if Toulouse are expecting another stroll in the Park, they could be in for a big shock.

The late drop-goal defeat by Leigh – against whom they suffered a 46-30 loss in the Championship game – was, said Crarey, ‘a disappointment.’ But he stressed that the players showed character with the view: “We have been either winning or losing by big margins but this was different. It showed that we can stick in there when we need to.”

Although the result, in which Ryan Johnston, Tom Loxam and Brett Carter earned unstinting praise, left Crarey and his men feeling ‘gutted,’ even the home fans were baffled as to why Barrow are still fighting the drop.

“What the heck are you lot doing down at 13th place?” was a general view among home supporters.

With popular winger/centre Stargroth Amean nursing a slight injury, Crarey will take a late head count before naming his side but with cup-tied duo Ben White and Jake Carter, plus Jamie Dallimore back from a one-match suspension, now available, Barrow are again able to field a near-full strength side.

“Toulouse are a very good side,” said Crarey, “but they have lost their last two matches, including a tough trip to Toronto.

“They have been without their two best players in Jonathon Ford and Mark Kheirallah, so they have had to change things around. We will just have to wait and see if they are both fit to play against us.”

Barrow’s win at Featherstone stirred up the top five race, but at the other end of the table the Raiders are still in the bottom two.

With Swinton pulling ever closer to safety – they should widen the gap by beating bottom club Rochdale tomorrow - the scramble for survival is hotting up.

Defeats for Batley, at home to Toronto, and Dewsbury at York would drag the West Yorkshire neighbours into the struggle and even Widnes would be looking over their shoulders if they should lose at Bradford.

It’s a crowded place at base camp, but Paul Crarey and his team have climbed mountains before. Despite having to play their third tough game in a week, recent events suggest the Raiders may be ready to spring another surprise.