RYAN Shaw is expecting a step up in intensity when Hull Kingston Rovers tackle Toronto Wolfpack in their latest pre-season game today.

The Barrovian winger and his Robins team-mates kicked off their preparations for the 2019 Super League season with a 30-18 victory over relegated Widnes Vikings last Sunday.

It will be the first outing of the year for Betfred Championship side Toronto, who missed out on promotion to London Broncos in last year’s Million Pound Game.

Shaw is in no doubt they will provide a tough test for Hull KR, particularly as the Canadian side will want to show their Super League credentials.

“Toronto will be a bit more of a step up to Widnes,” Shaw told the Hull Daily Mail. “They’ll probably put their best team out on the field and set a marker for their season.

“They’ll be wanting to show to us Super League teams that they want to come up in time for next year. I think we’ll also put out our strongest team too and it’s going to be a tough one.”

Shaw’s run-out against Widnes last weekend was his first game since suffering a season-ending injury last July and he was pleased to be involved again.

“It’s been five or six months since I last played a game so it was good to get a few carries,” said Shaw.

“Fair play to Widnes, they had a dig at us and it was competitive. It was what we needed.”