Nor do things get any easier as Batley are at home to Salford a week on Sunday, which means two games against full-time outfits, desperate for Super League status, in their first three fixtures in a matter of 10 days.
Batley coach Gary Thornton said he felt the Bulldogs were ready for the challenge.
He added: "It is a huge 10 days for us. Those first three games will be a massive test of the fitness and resilience of the players.
"We haven't played particularly well in the Northern Rail Cup games but we were disrupted at various times and did finish top of the group, which is encouraging.
"We are well aware that in the First Division the intensity will be higher and the pace quicker and I expect the players to react accordingly.
"We know we have to improve and I think we will. There is a good deal of improvement in us but I feel we are in much better shape than at this time last year.
"The draw at York last Sunday was disappointing but we never looked like losing.
"We had already qualified for the knockout stage and last Sunday some other results, featuring teams who had qualified, had an odd look about them."
Batley's main doubt for tomorrow is winger Jamie Stokes, still with a leg problem, but scrum-half Paul Mennell, who has been in sparkling form, and winger Bolu Fagborun should be available after missing out at York last Sunday. Mennell had a damaged thumb and Fagborun injured a knee in training.
Batley have confirmed that second row Kevin Crouthers will be with them for the rest of the season. He had agreed to play in the Northern Rail Cup matches to test his shoulder following an operation during the close season but has come through well and has impressed.
Thornton remarked: "I am absolutely delighted with Kevin's form and he is here for the season.
"He has been one of our best go-forward players by a long way and I'm looking to get him into the starting line-up rather than bringing him on from the bench."
In the last two seasons Batley have had cracking games against Widnes at The Mount. Last year they went down 34-18, having given them a healthy start, but still scored four tries. Two years ago they went down 38-36, having scored eight tries to seven.
Widnes, with a franchise bid in for Super League, are desperate to start well and it will be quite a test for the Bulldogs.
Batley's Northern Rail Cup knockout game at Barrow has been selected by Sky TV, which means it will be played on Thursday, April 3.
It is a shade hard on Batley, who might be hard-pressed to raise a full-strength side because of work commitments among the players.
A number of clubs have expressed surprise that in this competition there is no reward for the team finishing top of their group.
Batley were top but Barrow, who were only third in group six, have home advantage. Barrow qualified by beating Widnes last Sunday. The Vikings, who had already qualified, beat Barrow 78-0 at Halton Stadium three weeks earlier.
Some feel that at this stage of the competition the teams should be drawn out and the club with the superior record in the group games, have home advantage.