NORTH WALES CRUSADERS are close to full strength as they finally get their League One campaign underway this weekend.

Carl Forster’s side have a long trek south to tackle Cornwall on Sunday in their first league match of 2024 and they will make the journey tomorrow to give themselves the best possible chance of opening with a triumph.

Foster said: “Everyone is pretty much available. I don’t think Ben Evans will be travelling due to a expectant birth of his child, which will be a massive loss for us but some things are more important than rugby."

Cornwall have already opened their tilt in League One for the season and they suffered a 54-12 loss to Keighley Cougars last Sunday.

Forster added: “I watched Cornwall against Keighley, they’re a big side, they have a big set of players, and if you go one-up rugby against them, it will be a really tough contest.

“The pitch will be a challenge too, as it’s been used for rugby union in the winter.

“It will be a tussle in the middle and if it does turn out to be that sort of game, it will be a low-scoring game.”

This would be in complete contrast to the last meeting between the sides, which saw Cornwall win a thriller 40-38 last July.