Whitehaven will stage the biggest game of the season on Sunday an old fashioned Cumbrian shoot-out.

Barrow Raiders will be bidding to hold onto second spot in League One, a position they hold only on points differential over Haven.

Looking forward to the clash, Haven chairman Tommy Todd said: “It’s worked out perfectly because we have been looking forward to this game for a while now and the outcome will decide who finishes second and third.

“We are looking for a good four-figure crowd because there is a lot of interest in a Cumbrian derby which has something riding on it.”

Both clubs know that they face trips to Canada to take on League One leaders Toronto Wolfpack who have not dropped a point all season.

The outcome will also determine which of the Cumbrian rivals hosts the other in the eights programme which starts in a fortnight’s time.

Both Haven and Barrow will each have four home games and travel three times in the eights.

Points gathered so far in League One will be added to the points gained in the eights.

Barrow coach Paul Crarey is keen to hang on to second place in the table, but knows Haven will pose a different challenge to Oxford who were swept aside 80-10 on Saturday by the Raiders.

He said: “We’re all raring to go but we know that Whitehaven will be a different kettle of fish to Oxford. We beat them at Craven Park in a pre-season friendly and they’ll be smarting from that.

“But they’ve improved immensely and they’ve got real quality across the board.”

Crarey was at the Recreation Ground 10 days ago on summarising duties for BBC Radio Cumbria but was taking on board what Whitehaven offered.

“I think it’s going to be quite a game between two sides who have identical records on results,” he said.

Haven’s 12-12 draw against North Wales Crusaders on Sunday saw them go 12 unbeaten in League One, after winning their previous 11 games.