Pre-season favourites to win League One next season, Toronto Wolfpack hold no fears for new Whitehaven coach Carl Forster.

Delighted with the squad he has assembled for the 2017 season, Forster can’t wait to lock horns with Rugby League’s latest addition to the playing ranks.

The Wolfpack are due at the Recreation Ground for the second match of the competitive season in March, the only time they will meet in the regulation round of games.

“Obviously they are going to be stiff opposition," said Forster. "They will be full-time players, with all the benefits that brings, but as far as I’m concerned there’s no point in trying to be second best.

“With the squad we have assembled I believe we should be challenging for top spot and a quick return to the Championship. That’s certainly the aim.”

The Wolfpack, under the direction of head coach Paul Rowley, have 17 players on board so far with the latest signings being Steve Crossley from Bradford Bulls and Quentin Laulu-Togagae from Sheffield Eagles.

“They have secured some prominent players with good experience but I’m more than happy with the players that will be pulling-on Whitehaven shirts this coming season.

“It’s good that we’ve got them as our first home game, which should be extra incentive for the fans to see what we have to offer,” added Forster.

Unless there is a serious crop of injuries, Forster says he has no plans to increase the size of the squad from the 26 players currently signed-up.

“We have 18 of them based in Cumbria so we have backed-up what we said at the end of last season that we wanted two third of the squad who are local to the area.

“I’m really pleased with the lads from local amateur rugby league who have joined us and we will continue to assess players from that source,” he said.