Paul Crarey was looking forward to today’s visit to Championship leaders Toronto Wolfpack ‘like a hole in the head.’

The Barrow Raiders head coach and his team headed to Canada on Thursday for their final trip of a season of toil and trouble knowing that defeat at the Lamport Stadium today will confirm the inevitable; relegation to League One.

“We seem to have problems each time we go over there,” said Crarey who was able to call on only 15 fit players ahead of Thursday’s flight and that included Jordan Walne, who will have a late check on his neck injury.

Liam Paisley and Dan Toal have already been added to a lengthy casualty list.

Work commitments, injuries and suspension have again restricted Crarey’s choice to the bare bones of an already limited squad.

Pre-match plans were disrupted earlier in the week when late call-ups to work cut the squad even further and key forward Jono Smith was forced to pull out of the trip after he was handed a two-match ban for a dangerous tackle in the game at Sheffield two weeks ago.

Barrow decided not to challenge the verdict to give the player, who they hope will be staying at Craven Park, a clean slate to start next season.

“The lads who are travelling are in a positive frame of mind but we really need this game like a hole in the head,” said Crarey. “We know it will be tough against a team of such high quality.”

“I realise we voted for it but sending part-time teams over there is a big disadvantage. Even York, who were lying second in the table, conceded 56 points.”

Even the luck of the draw from the computer deserted the Raiders – had the game been scheduled for early in the season it would have been played at one of Toronto’s alternative “home” venues; Hull, London or Newcastle.

With little at stake other than personal pride and reputation, the trip to the hot promotion favourites who have suffered only one league defeat this season – they were beaten 46-16 by Toulouse in March - is a daunting challenge even for a full-strength Raiders side.

The clubs have met five times with the Wolfpack clocking up four wins, Barrow’s only point coming in an 8-8 draw at Craven Park. But that makes them one of the few teams to have halted the Wolfpack’s run of success.

Earlier this season Toronto ran up a 52-26 win thanks to hat-tricks from Blake Wallace and Gareth O’Brien, who also kicked eight goals.

The Wolfpack, who are going for their 20th win in a row, have piled up more than 900 points and head the table by 12 points ahead of Toulouse and Leigh, but the Raiders know there will be no easing up from the home side today.

Toronto manager Brian Noble said: “All our players know that on our day we can beat most teams and the games towards the end of the season are massively important.

“When the play-offs come you have to be most focussed. That’s the challenge – getting the combinations right.”

Barrow’s final game of the season is at home to Batley next weekend and gives the opportunity to round off the season with a rare double success, having won on the opening day in Yorkshire.