ICE-HOCKEY: BLACKBURN Hawks face the toughest of weekends with back-to-back play-off fixtures against the League's top two.

Tomorrow the squad travel east to face Billingham Eagles, who finished top of the English National League (North) in the regular season, before returning to base for a Sunday showdown with Whitley Bay's fearsome Warriors.

Mark Gabbitas is still injured but Hawks will need all their remaining resources in what is sure to be a demanding double.

The Hawks, however, will be up for the challenge. Having lost at home to the Eagles in the opening match of the season and earning a 4-4 draw away at the Eagles' nest, Bobby Haig's men must fancy their chances tomorrow.

Sunday's game promises to be another bruising encounter as the Hawks seek to erase the memory of last weekend's defeat to the Warriors on their own patch. The Hawks matched their opponents for two periods but superior strength told in the final session as the visitors tired.

"They were able to field four lines to our three, simple as that, and it told in the end," explained Hawks' manager Keith Greenhalgh.

"But it will be different when they visit the Arena on Sunday."

Sunday's action faces off at 6.00 pm.