BLACKBURN Hawks are toasting the dawn of 1999 with a double.

For not only do they top the English Premier League, they also have star striker Andrew Dickson racing clear in the individual points scorer table.

This is the third time Hawks have been in the EPL hot seat this season, but with two games in hand over chasing Wightlink, Hawks hope to stay out in front.

Dickson has already totalled 58 points - 11 clear of Wightlink's Jonas Anderson. Blackburn strike partner Lamont Polet has actually scored more goals than Dickson - the only player to do so with 29 against 26 - but Polet has lost ground on assists, 15 as against 32.

Hawks administrator John Neville reckons this weekend is critical to his team's hopes of landing the national prize. Hawks travel to Chelmsford tonight to tackle the Chieftains in the league (face off 5.45pm), before winding up the Christmas Cup campaign at home to Telford Tigers tomorrow (6pm).

Revenge will certainly be in the air down in Essex. "It's essential we get off to a good start at Chelmsford tonight," he said. "We've only met them once this season, and they shaded it 10-9. We had a few injuries back then, but we're at full strength tonight and we'll be going to put some light between us and the chasing pack.

"The league has always been top priority for us this season, and, of course, the emphasis is on tonight's game. But, although we can't win the Christmas Cup, we'll still be going all out on Sunday.

"It's more than a question of pride to us. We last faced Telford on their ice back in November, and we came away with an 8-0 battering. We cannot allow ourselves to be dragged down again, and it's all a question of keeping the spirit in the camp high."

Hawks are without young starlets Tom Burridge and Matt Jones. The forwards are both on the international beat in Lithuania as part of the Great Britain under 20s squad in the European Championships.

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