Furness Raiders have largely had things their own way in college rugby league this season, but they can expect much more of a challenge when they take on Hull FC Academy this evening.

The journey on its own is difficult enough - the three-hour-plus drive back from Humberside means the young Raiders won't get back to Barrow until after midnight - but the standard of opposition will be considerably higher than what they've faced so far.

In their last outing, Furness simply had too much power for Salford, who were blown away 50-4 at Craven Park, but coach David Cairns is looking forward to seeing his youngsters stretched, as he believes it will benefit their development more.

Cairns said: "They're going to play quite a lot of their academy lads - they've already told us that, but we're not bothered because I'm quite happy for us to play a full academy.

"It gives us a test. It's not great when you're dominating every game because you need to be tested, you need to be pushed.

"Our lads are not the kind of lads who think they're the be-all and end-all because they know some of the teams are of the standard that we need to be playing at and that's probably the same with the Cumbria side.

"Some of the lads who played against Lancashire will have realised that some of their lads are at a higher level, so it's all about raising your game and learning and progressing to another height."

The match at Hull comes in the middle of a busy period for Cairns' players, some of whom played for Cumbria under-19s and under-17s in their Three Counties Championship matches at Lancashire, both of which went the way of the hosts.

This came after nine Furness Raiders participated in the 12-12 draw between England Community Lions and Scotland under-19s at Leigh Miners a few weeks ago.

Cairns said: "A lot of the lads played for Cumbria on Sunday and the under-19s are also playing this weekend at Millom [against Yorkshire].

"Fitness shouldn't be a problem, although tiredness might be, but because these lads are only 17 or 18 years old, that won't really be an issue.

"Cumbria got a bit of a pasting, even though I didn't get to see the game, but I think the lads can step up for what should be our hardest game so far."