BLACKBURN are set for English Cup action all the way as the Hawks gear up for demanding back-to-back qualifiers against tough opposition.

Tonight, Billingham Bombers touch down at the Arena in Blackburn and tomorrow, the Hawks face a daunting trip to face old rivals Whitley Bay Warriors in the North East.

It might be January and the season is four months old, but the Hawks have yet to face the Bombers.

Two scheduled away games were postponed when the Bombers were grounded due to their rink being unfit for play and they have faced the Warriors only once, a thrilling 6-6 English Cup tie at the Arena back in September.

Hawks' player-coach Bobby Haig is under no illusions as to the task ahead, but the wily Scot was typically upbeat.

"Both Billingham and Whitley have been going well in all competitions and we will have to be on top of our game to beat them," he explained.

"Whitley have been a bit of a 'bogey' team in recent times, we never seem to play that well up there.

"I think it's time we put that one to bed. We have the players who can do it, and if we work hard and take our chances, then I have no worries."

The Hawks will have to manage without Wes and Scott Barnett, who were ejected from last Sunday's league match with Sunderland for brawling.

They are serving an automatic suspension and await the league's ruling on exactly how many games they should miss. Eddie Cooper is also absent through injury.

Tonight's cup-tie at the Arena faces off at 6pm, doors opening for spectators at 5.15 pm. The away match at Whitley Bay tomorrow starts at 6.30 pm.