Barry Eaton is relishing a long-overdue return to former club Widnes Vikings at the start of the new Co-operative Championship campaign.

The Cougars boss will take his players to Stobart Stadium Halton on Sunday, February 28 to kick off the new season in rugby league’s second tier.

A key player for the Vikings in their inaugural Super League season in 2002, Eaton has not returned to the club since leaving to join Batley more than seven years ago.

Widnes dropped out of the top flight in 2005 but, under high-profile coach Paul Cullen, they won this year’s Northern Rail Cup and are not only strong contenders for the Championship title in 2010 but also for a Super League licence the following year.

“It will be a great game to start off with,” said Eaton.

“There will be a big crowd and it’ll be the first time I’ve been back to the club since I played there in Super League.

“They are a Super League club in everything but name and will be strong contenders for the title.”

Although Widnes offer the first Championship test, the Cougars kick off 2010 on January 31 with a trip to Blackpool in the Northern Rail Cup.

The remaining Cup fixtures will see Eaton’s side take on Cumbrian trio Whitehaven, Workington and Barrow, the reigning Championship winners.

Eaton added: “It will be a tough trip to Blackpool. I see a lot of similarities between them and the way we have done things in the last four years.

“Martin Crompton has come in there and gradually instilled good coaching qualities and he’s now starting to attract good players.

“They will be a front runner in Championship One and we’ve had some tough games against them in recent years.

Eaton remains hopeful of progress, saying: “Whitehaven will be a really tough one because they will be looking at top four or five in the Championship this year. But we are playing both them and Workington at home.

“If we can get on a good run, we’ll have a good chance of qualifying for the next round.”

Northern Rail Cup

January

Sun 31 Blackpool Away

February

Sun 7 Whitehaven Home

Sun 14 Workington Home

Sun 21 Barrow Away

Co-operative Championship

February

Sun 28 Widnes Away

March

Sun 14 Leigh Home

Sat 20 Toulouse Away

Thu 25 Batley Home

April

Fri 2 Sheffield Home

Mon 5 Dewsbury Away

Thu 8 Halifax Away

May

Mon 3 Barrow Home

Sun 9 Whitehaven Away

Sun 16 Featherstone Away

Sun 23 Halifax Home

Thu 27 Sheffield Away

June

Sun 13 Dewsbury Home

Sun 27 Leigh Away

July

Sun 4 Featherstone Home

Sat 24 Toulouse Home

August

Sun 1 Batley Away

Sat 7 Barrow Away

Sun 15 Whitehaven Home

Sun 22 Widnes Home