CLARINGTON -- The road to a Founder’s Cup championship is about to get tough for the Clarington Green Gaels.

Well, tougher at the very least.

After rolling through Mississauga in the first round of the Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. B playoffs, the Green Gaels are set to play host to the Barrie Tornado in the Round 2 opener Wednesday at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex at 8 p.m.

The Tornado tore apart Cornwall in their opening round series, outscoring the Far East Division Champions 40-15. And although not many would mistake Cornwall, 7-13 during the regular season, as a powerhouse, Green Gaels coach Jason Crosbie has been around long enough to know the playoff tests get more difficult as each series progresses.

“It’s going to be a tougher round because at this point every round you get into is going to be tougher,” Crosbie said on Monday. “It’s going to be a good test for us. (Barrie’s) defence is tougher, stronger and faster (than Mississauga’s was) and we are going to have to be ready for it.”

Certainly, it was a challenge the Gaels were up to during the regular season. They posted a 3-0 record against the Tornado, including a pair of home floor victories, 11-5 and 11-6, while earning a hard-fought 9-8 overtime victory during their only encounter in Barrie.

“We played them well during the year but they are a tough team,” Crosbie reiterated. “They run the ball well, they put a lot of pressure on and like I said before, their D is strong. They’ve got some guys who can really score and we are going to have to come up with a system (to stop them).”

Perhaps the most glaring challenge for the Green Gaels will be shutting down the talented Barrie offence, led by 44-goal-man Rick Acorn. Crosbie, however, is more than confident that after his team only allowed a paltry 110 goals during the regular season and just 14 more in the first round, they should be successful in neutralizing Barrie’s attack.

“Our D has been there all year,” says Crosbie. “We don’t really need them to step up, but we need them to remain steady and disciplined. They did a great job all year and there is no reason to think they won’t now.”

The teams will enjoy an extended break after Wednesday, as Game 2 doesn’t go until next Tuesday, July 17 at 8 p.m. in Barrie, while Game 3 is slated for July 19 in Clarington at 8 p.m.

If necessary, Game 4 will be in Barrie July 20 and Game 5 in Clarington on July 22 at 7 p.m.