Table-toppers Keighley Cougars head to Barrow Raiders on Sunday (2pm) fearing nothing as they aim to clinch a surprise Northern Rail Cup quarter-final spot.

Ahead of their crucial final fixture, Barry Eaton’s side are flying high at the Pool One summit following a classy 44-6 rout of Hunslet Hawks.

Others around them, including Halifax, Widnes, Blackpool and Barrow themselves, have a game in hand but Eaton insisted: “It’s good to be out in front, even for a moment.

“Our win against Hunslet was very welcome, particularly after the disappointment of losing at Blackpool the previous week.

“What we’re looking for now is some consistency and Sunday’s trip to Barrow in our final qualifying game is going to provide us with a real test of character.

“If we go up there and win, we qualify. That’s certain.

“If we don’t, we need to get something out of the game and potentially hope Widnes beat Barrow next Wednesday.

“There’s lots of permutations though with six clubs all still effectively chasing the four qualification spots but the easiest route is for us to go to Barrow and come away with a victory.”

Eaton realises that is a stern test, despite the impressive showing his players delivered in running nine tries – including another Jon Presley hat-trick – past Hunslet last weekend.

And although Barrow were easily brushed aside 40-10 at Halifax, the Cumbrians are a far different prospect on home territory.

“History tells us they’re a formidable side at home,” said Eaton, whose Keighley side were crushed 44-18 at Craven Park last summer.

“They only lost there once last season and that was against the eventual National League Two champions Gateshead.

“Raiders were promoted to the Champion-ship too and they’ve signed some useful players since.

“Dave Clark has proved himself to be a coach who sets up well-drilled teams and it’s going to be a major challenge to my side.

“The one thing that is probably sticking in my throat is that we could have alleviated all of this by performing at Blackpool; potentially, we could be qualified already.

“Rugby’s a funny game though and we’ve still got a fighting chance.

“In a way, we’ve nothing to lose and we’ll go up there and give it a real blast.

“We’re a decent side when we play to our maximum and that’s what we need to do.

“We’ll go there and get into Barrow’s faces early on. We have to start well and make them uneasy.

“The longer the game goes on and we’re still in it, the better chance we stand of getting the result we want.”

Cougars are again expected to be without no-nonsense prop Andy Shickell, who injured his knee at Blackpool and aggravated it in his work as a cable fitter.

The club’s medical staff will asses the potential cartilage problem tonight but if there is no improvement he will go for a scan.

They are already missing Aussie prop Brendan Rawlins but fellow front-rower Craig Brown is back after work commitments saw him miss the last two games.

New back-row signing Karl Gunney made a promising debut off the bench versus Hunslet and he too is included in Eaton’s squad.

“Karl carried the ball really, really strongly against his former club so there was no reason for him not to be pumped up,” he said.

“He did two real short bursts but gave us a lot of go-forward and, with more training and game-time, he’s going to be a good player for us.”

Daley Williams, who was 18th man last week, is also in the reckoning.