Blackburn Hawks will be hoping to stretch their winning streak to five games in all competitions when they travel to local rivals Trafford Metros later today.

The Hawks have been in fine form since the turn of the year, beating Coventry Blaze, Billingham Stars and Nottingham Lions in the English National Ice Hockey League North One by the same 3-1 scoreline, while they also overcame Scottish high-flyers Solway Sharks 3-2 in the English Cup.

It will be the fourth time the two teams have met in the league this season, with Hawks having a score to settle away from home.

Trafford won the opening encounter 5-0 on home ice back in October, before again recording a shutout with a 3-0 win in Blackburn last month.

Hawks gained revenge with an 8-1 win at Blackburn Arena just a fortnight later and will be hoping to maintain their superb recent run of results this weekend.

The local ice hockey aces are currently third in the league ladder, just a point ahead of their local rivals, who lie in fifth, and victory today would really cement their place in the play-off positions.

Meanwhile, Lancashire Raptors go in search of a so-far elusive first win of the English National Ice Hockey League North Two season tomorrow when they welcome Hull Stingrays to the Arena.

So far this term the Raptors have lost all 17 games and conceded 178 goals in the process. They have scored just 10.