BLACKBURN Hawks are in for a tough weekend with back-to-back away games in the English National Hockey League North.

The Hawk's travel to meet the Billingham Eagles tomorrow before heading south for a clash with arch-rivals Altrincham aces 24 hours later.

And Blackburn desperately need a change in fortune, as last Saturday's 7-2 loss to league trailers Sunderland Chiefs amounted to their fourth consecutive league defeat.

But team coach Bobby Haig isn't too optimistic at the moment.

"Both teams are going to be extremely difficult to beat," he said. "First there's the Eagles who are a place above us in the table with a game in hand. They will be looking to win the game, and with very good player like Paul Windridge and Andrew Fletcher, it will be hard to deny them a victory.

"The Aces are currently second in the league, have a very good team, and as rivals always put in the effort to beat us, and away from home they're going to be very tough to defeat."

The Hawks could really do with at least one league point this weekend, but first they have to overcome their biggest problem - themselves.

"I don't mind losing if the team have given it their best, but that's just it - they're not," said Bobby. "And it gets me mad, as it just seems like they can't be bothered at times."

But Haig is hoping that adopting a new method of coaching will do the trick.

"I'm going to have to come down on them hard, either they put in the effort or they don't get to play - simple as that. I'd rather take just five willing players to a game than a full squad when their hearts aren't in it."