Championship Preview: Barrow v Batley

Barrow Raiders are boosted by the return of Kurt Haggerty, who looks set to take a place in the second row after serving a one-match suspension during Barrow’s 58-12 defeat at Featherstone Rovers.

However, Sean Casey and Dean McGilvray both face late fitness tests before Darren Holt’s team selection is confirmed.

Holt said: “I’m absolutely 100 per cent certain that every one of our home games is winnable.

“We’ll be going out on Thursday to get that first win.”

Batley Bulldogs coach John Kear has highlighted Barrow’s Liam Harrison as one of the Raiders’ key men for Thursday’s clash.

Kear said: “Liam had a great game against Featherstone last week. That might sound a bit perverse when his team lost 58-12, but he really stood up as a leader and helped them restore some credibility. He was outstanding.”

Kear will make late checks on three mystery injuries before finalising his team.

“We’re confident one or two of them will play, but we’re not so sure that all three will make it,” he said.

Kear added: “We’ve played well in facets of each of our three games so far, and we’re definitely improving, but it’s pretty easy to identify areas we can still work on.

“If we are going to challenge, which we want to do this year, then we’ve got to play better than we have done in our first three games.”