AFTER two opening victories, Blackburn Hawks sit proudly at the top of English National Hockey League North, but are facing the toughest of examinations this weekend.

The Hawks crushed Bradford and Grimsby in back-to-back triumphs but now face a Saturday night at defending champions Sheffield.

The Scimitars were runaway leaders of the league last season, but slipped to an opening-day 6-5 defeat to Nottingham.

"Nottingham have dropped down a league, replacing Altrincham and they will be tough," explained Hawks's player-coach Bobby Haig.

"And so will Sheffield though, mark my word, we had an easy start and we will be going all out to keep our unbeaten record, but it won't be easy."

Haig is without the services of Chris Black this weekend due to other commitments. But the rest of the squad, including the prolific Michael Brunton, who already has six goals to his name, are fit and raring to go.

The match at Sheffield faces off at 7pm.

On Sunday the Hawks face a cross-border challenger from Scottish aces Paisley Pirates, who are due at the Arena for a 6pm face-off.

Haig said: "They are probably equivalent to us in Scotland and should give us another tough game.

"Any team coached by Paul Heavey is bound to be strong, well-disciplined and hard to crack."

The Arena doors open at 5.15pm on Sunday.