BLACKBURN Hawks are heading to resurgent Solway Sharks with a depleted squad today, but head coach Daniel MacKriel is determined to see the possibilities rather than the problems.

Hawks are set to give three players the chance to be involved from the club’s younger Eagles group in their double-header weekend, with two travelling to Scotland for tonight’s cup game (7pm), while one more will join them for tomorrow’s visit of Sheffield Senators (5.45pm).

MacKriel himself is one absentee from the playing squad, after having his appendix removed, while he is also without Max Drakeley, Andy Dunn, Chris Butler, Lee Pollitt, Jordan Bannon and Tom King.

“We are missing a lot of players, with the chance of only half returning for next week’s game, but we’ve been lucky enough to be able to call upon some players from the Eagles,” said MacKriel.

“They are at an age where they want to be playing for the Hawks so it will be a good experience for them.

“Ideally we would have liked to take some of the Under 18s to Solway but they have a game.”

Of the tie, MacKriel added: “It’s another tough game.

“They’ve picked up in beating Whitley Bay, who were unbeaten this season, so they might be finding their feet.

“Then there’s the added incentive of beating us after we went up there last month and won 7-2. Revenge will be at the back of their minds.”

Tomorrow Hawks return to league action, hoping to maintain their winning start to the season, and MacKriel said: “Senators have struggled with results but we can’t take them for granted. All their lads work hard in that team and play for the love of the game.

“They graft all the time.”