But county boss Crarey is confident his players will not be star-struck. “The likes of Ali Lauitiiti from Leeds and Wigan’s George Carmont could be coming to blow our house down but we will be ready,” he said. “Cumbrians are renowned for grit and we don’t worry about anyone else. The lads will get a chance to express themselves.

“Before we played England last year we didn’t watch any tapes of them, we just had tip sheets.

“We put our house in order and let them worry about us. We’ve done well since 2006 and built every year, with the group becoming stronger.”

An inspired Cumbria drew with England in front of over 5,000 fans at the Recreation Ground in October in a memorial game for ex-Workington Town and Haven forward Garry Purdham.

“It was an emotionally-charged dressing room,” Crarey continued. “The players didn’t have to walk through the door of the changing room. They would probably have walked through the wall.”

Crarey has named Workington Town’s Gary Charlton as his No.2 and left the door open to ex-Haven coach David Seeds.

Charlton and Seeds were Crarey’s assistants for the Purdham Memorial game .

“I got on really well with Gary last year, as I did with David, and he loved being part of it,” said Crarey, who plans to speak to Seeds, after he stepped down from the Haven hotseat last week.

“I think David wants a break from the game, but if he wants to be involved he certainly can be.”

St Helens winger Ade Gardner will not feature due to injury but has contacted Crarey, county coach since 2006, about a non-playing role within the squad.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk