CARL FORSTER would like another strong run towards the League One play-offs this season.

However, the North Wales Crusaders’ player-coach is waiting to see how the first month of the league season pans out before he starts to set some concrete targets for his side.

Crusaders play their first home match of the season on Sunday as they tackle Midlands Crusaders in Colwyn Bay.

Reflecting on his targets for this season, Forster says he would like to reach the play-offs once more, but a better idea on how things are likely to pan out will come after the opening month of the campaign.

He told CruCast: “I think we’ll just probably find out more as the next four, five games come along, because you’ve obviously had Midlands that’s throwing money at it this year.

“So, they’re going to significantly improve. I think Cornwall, they’ve recruited really well.

“They’ve got a couple of Australians over from the other side of the world and I know we went in for a couple of lads that, you know, obviously said no to us and turned around and signed for Cornwall, because financially it was a lot better for them.

“So, we don’t know what them type of teams are going to be like this year.

“I think we’re just going to have to see what the league’s like. Obviously, we’ve got Newcastle that’s kind of gone out and come back in and another pretty local team.

“So, for me, it’s obviously let’s get in them play-offs and then, as we know from last year, anything can happen in those knockout games and I think that would be deemed as another success.”

Home comforts are sure to be of benefit to North Wales Crusaders this season.

Back in 2023, work at Stadiwm CSM meant the Crusaders had to use no fewer than five home grounds over the course of the campaign.

However, their Colwyn Bay base will be available throughout this season and action at the venue begins with the home clash with Midlands Hurricanes.

Crusaders will go into the meeting after opening their League One season with a 40-16 success away to Cornwall.

Player-coach Forster and Toby Hughes claimed a brace of tries apiece, while there were also scores from Kieran Taylor, Chris Barratt and Dan Coates.

Crusaders will become home team experts over the coming couple of weeks. Following the meeting with Midlands, Forster’s side will welcome Newcastle Thunder for their first league encounter in April the following weekend.