BLACKBURN Hawks coach Steve Duncombe is urging his side to use their frustration at last weekend’s events to cause an upset this weekend.

The Hawks looked set for a first win in five when they raced into a 4-0 first quarter lead against Nottingham Lions at Blackburn Ice Arena, only for the game to be abandoned due to concerns about the state of the ice.

It’s cup action this weekend for Duncombe’s side, who face Hull Pirates in Hull tonight before a home game with the Sheffield Steeldogs tomorrow.

“It was a bit disappointing, we were winning comfortably so the game looked like it was going to go in our favour, we were playing well and it would have been good to get that confidence from getting back to winning ways, but it wasn’t to be,” Duncombe said of the decision to abandon the game.

“We’ll have to go out this weekend, push hard and try and some clip some points off Sheffield and Hull.”

Despite the disappointment at seeing the game called off before the Hawks could rack up the two points, Duncombe can see positives from the weekend, include a late fightback at Solihull on the Saturday.

And the Hawks will also be buoyed this weekend by the return of Kieran Brown, who signed on the dotted line on Friday.

“Even the Saturday game when we lost at Solihull, in the third period we out shot them something like 23 to one, we played really well in that third period and then took that into the first period on Sunday,” said Duncombe.

“I’ve got positives to take away from it and we’ve got another player coming in this weekend in Kieran.

“He was with us last season, he’s a great addition and he’s just what we need to try and take some points off these sides.”

The challenge will be significant for the Hawks this weekend, but Duncombe believes his side are capable of causing a shock.

The Sheffield native is particularly keen on claiming a first success against the Steeldogs.

“Sheffield and Hull both dropped down from the EPL so they’re very tough teams. I think we’re capable of dealing with them,” added Duncombe.

“We beat Hull last season and we’ve come very close with Sheffield, so I would like to take some points off them, especially against Sheffield with me being from Sheffield.”