BLACKBURN Hawks face a tough cup-tie tonight when top Midlands outfit Solihull Barons pitch up at the Arena.

The visitors arrive for the latest Group A clash of the English National Premier League Cup as group leaders and favourites to go through.

Currently lying third in the English Premier League, they will present the stiffest of challenges for Bobby Haig's men.

The Hawks go into the fray on the back of a heavy English Cup defeat dished out by old rivals, Altrincham Aces, last weekend.

And despite Haig's stated priority being the League, with little hope of Premier Cup progress, the side could do with a morale-boosting performance.

Last season, the Hawks ran the Barons close in similar Premier Cup action, with the Midlands side's imports being the crucial difference between the two teams.

After two disappointing rounds against Birmingham and Nottingham, the Hawks are rooted at the bottom of Group A, but Haig will be looking to restore some pride with a good team performance against a team from a higher level.

He said: "We were very impressed with our performance against Whitley last weekend, especially since they were unbeaten this season.

"It was a great achievement for us. But then we let ourselves down against Altrincham. Hopefully it will be different against Solihull."

The Arena doors open at 5.15pm for a 6pm face-off.

SUPER LEAGUE giants Manchester Storm are set to blow into the Arena to take on the Blackburn Hawks in a mouth-watering one-off challenge match on Tuesday (November 20).

A bumper crowd is expected for a real David v Goliath clash against two North-West rivals.