Haven hooker James Newton will put friendships aside as his team tackle Barrow Raiders in their “biggest” game of the year.

Haven can claim second place in League 1 from their Cumbrian rivals with victory on Sunday, sending them into the super eights stage on a high.

And Newton, from Millom, is looking forward to taking the field in a fiercely competitive Cumbrian derby.

He said: “The way the season has been going there has been big hype around this game all year, we’ve been changing between second and third all season.

“It’s a massive game this week, the biggest game of the year so far. They will come at us and we’ve got to match them.”

Barrow hooker Nathan Mossop is a friend of Newton, while Bradd Crellin played alongside him at Haven.

Newton said: “Bradd was at Haven for a while and I’m big pals with Nathan Mossop off the pitch. He plays in the same position so it will be good to go head-to-head against him.”

Haven will hope the top-of-the-table clash will attract a big crowd to the Recreation Ground for the 3pm kick-off.

Barrow are bringing three supporters’ buses up to Whitehaven, with more travelling in cars.

“There will be a few Millom lads coming to watch. Hopefully a big Cumbrian derby will bolster the crowd,” said Newton.

“Finishing second would be massive because when you get to semi-final football you’ll play fifth place at home, that’s a massive advantage.”

Haven could only draw with North Wales Crusaders last weekend, meaning they go into this weekend in third place, with their visitors in second on points difference.

Newton said: “Last weekend didn’t go to plan. I think we were looking at Barrow a bit and not the job in hand. Our energy levels were low and I’m not sure why.

“This week I think there will be a big forward battle. We’re quite evenly matched so it will come down to who takes their chances.”

Ahead of the game Haven are having a family fun day, with children’s rugby games, a bouncy castle, face painting and more from midday.

Winger Craig Calvert will miss the big game through injury and player-coach Carl Forster is facing a race to get fit in time for the crunch tie after a hand injury kept him out of Sunday’s draw. But Chris Taylor will be back after serving a one-match ban.