THERE will be no easing themselves back into action after the Christmas break for Furness Raiders tonight as they head to Wakefield College for a top-of-the-table clash.

Wakefield, who have good links with the town’s Super League club, have shown themselves to be one of the strongest College Rugby League sides in recent years – including beating Furness at Craven Park in last year’s AoC National Cup final and edging them out 16-10 at home this season.

But the Raiders have quickly proven to be one of the teams to beat in the Premier Division too since joining the competition three years ago and head coach David Cairns sees no reason his team cannot come away from Wakefield with the points.

“If we go and get beaten then we understand that because they are a top side, but we are capable of beating this team – I am sure we are,” said Cairns, who had some tough selection choices to make with 27 players turning up to training on Monday evening.

“There is a bit of thing where they have a lot of academy lads who have played first-team for Wakefield, but we’ve got a couple of first-team players now in Adam Ford and Charlie Emslie. They can play the game at a top level.

“I’ve got to pick 20 players and every one of the subs, I could have started with. They are good players and it’s just a case of personal choice in picking starters, so when I make changes from the bench I’m swapping good players for good players.

“That’s a great thing and there is real strength there.”

Ford and Emslie both got their first experience of professional rugby on Sunday in Barrow Raiders’ pre-season match at home to Oldham, with the former racing 70 metres to score the opening try in the 24-10 defeat and the latter playing off the interchange bench.

Millom forward Emslie’s game-time was limited due to him being set to start tonight against Wakefield, but Cairns was pleased both were able to make an impression.

“I’ve talked to Paul Crarey and he said they did really well,” said Cairns. “Charlie didn’t get a lot of game-time, but I’d spoken to Paul before and said that I needed Charlie for Wakefield because he’s one of our key pack-men.

“Charlie is one of those guys who leads from the front and it would have dented us a bit if he wasn’t playing. We have got a strong bench, but you don’t want to be missing your very top players.

“Fordy took his try really well and the size of the guy, he’s definitely got a lot of potential. He just needs to fulfil that potential, and keep learning and improving.”