PAUL Crarey will be closely monitoring the status of his Barrow Raiders squad over the Easter weekend as they prepare to face the might of Toronto Wolfpack and Bradford Bulls back-to-back.

Betfred Championship leaders Toronto visit Craven Park on Good Friday, followed by Barrow travelling to Odsal for the clash with the Bulls three days later.

Raiders head coach Crarey is no fan of the Easter double-header, particularly with the injury situation at the club ravaging the squad at present.

However, he is determined to get on with it and is aiming to build on the positives from last Sunday's 46-30 defeat away to Leigh Centurions.

"We're going to have to look after and manage the minutes against Toronto, and hopefully we'll come through," said Crarey.

"But they've got a game on the Monday too and it's an experience for them. Even the full-time teams fear it and it is a difficult thing.

"But we've got to get on with it and the performance last week against Leigh was outstanding, offensively.

"The performance defensively wasn't as good, but it was the amount of penalties we gave away that doesn't help us, really."

Last year's Easter games saw a much-changed Barrow team beaten 30-4 away to Halifax, followed by drawing 16-16 at home to Swinton Lions.

Most of the squad had never experienced playing two high-intensity Championship games in such a short space of time and while Crarey hopes to utilise that knowledge this time around, he knows it will be no less physically demanding.

"It was new to us last year when we played two games, and it was very difficult and demanding for the players," said Crarey.

"It was something our players had never experienced as part-time players coming out of League One.

"It's a different experience because your so sore from the Friday and you've only got a couple of days turnaround before you're back on it again."