Winger Shane Toal will make his first appearance in more than eight months in Barrow Raiders' pre-season friendly against North Wales Crusaders tomorrow.

Toal was one of a number of players who had a nightmare time with injuries, but his was a more serious problem than most, with the ACL tear he suffered against Featherstone Rovers last April ruling him out for the season.

To use the old cliche, the 24-year-old Scotland international's return will feel like a new signing, especially if he can rediscover the sort of form that led to him being Barrow's top try scorer in their 2017 promotion campaign.

Head coach Paul Crarey said: "He was quality when he got injured [in 2018] - he was leading try scorer for our club in the Championship and he was absolutely flying and we had interest in him from Super League clubs.

"He had a bad injury and he never really recovered from that, but he's had enough time now in the off-season, he's worked really hard on his own and with the physios at the club and I hope it all goes well for him.

"We'll treat him with kid gloves when he comes back. He'll play about 20 or 30 minutes on Sunday, then get a little bit longer against Workington and when we get to the games, he'll do a lot more contact in training."

Prop Ryan Duffy will also be available to face North Wales, after missing last week's match against Oldham, but Danny Morrow is still away on holiday.

New signing Lee Jewitt could make his first appearance after having an injection to his knee that should set the former Hull KR man right for the season.

A late decision will be made on full back Luke Cresswell, who suffered a swollen elbow against Oldham and has also had problems with his shoulder this week.