LANCASHIRE Hawks partake in some festive frolics tonight as they kick off the Christmas Cup against Paisley Pirates - but Christmas cheer will be the last thing on their minds.

Hawks have met Paisley just once this season, returning from Scotland on the tail end of a 10-5 whipping - and they're thirsty for revenge.

But Hawks face last year's Northern Premier runners-up (face off 6pm) with a depleted squad. Rocksteady defenceman Neil Abel is still out with a broken foot, and manager Mike Cockayne has fallen behind in the race to sign new blood to the team.

"We've no new faces yet, but the activity behind the scenes this week has been frantic," says Mr Cockayne. "We've spoken to several people, and we've others in the pipeline, but we won't be able to have anyone cleared in time for the weekend.

"It's very hard going, but we're determined to get in players who can strengthen the squad over the coming months - and we won't stop searching until that objective is achieved."

Hawks have three weeks off from the twin league system. In the Christmas Cup, which has been introduced this year for the first time, they will face five other teams, plucked from both the National and the Northern Leagues. But Mr Cockayne says his troops won't be easing off the gas.

"The Cup is simply an extension of our league campaigns, and we won't approach the games any differently than we do the others. Paisley are a very strong team, and along with Fife and Kingston will be pushing for top honours in the league.

"But just because the league pressure is off doesn't mean that we view the games ay differently. There is still no such thing as an easy game."

Ironically, the only time Hawks face a team outside the competition this month is on Christmas Eve, when they fly over to Kingston in the Northern League. The competition takes Hawks well into the New Year, when they resume normal service.

Neil Abel is still on the treatment table recovering from a broken foot, but Hawks have no new injury worries.

Tomorrow night, again in the Christmas Cup, Hawks travel to take on Murrayfield Royals.

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