LANCASHIRE Hawks bring the curtain down on their scheduled league season tonight, hoping to avoid taking hold of ice hockey's wooden spoon.

And they tackle fellow strugglers Murrayfield Royals at the Arena (face off 6pm) in the knowledge that the losers will finish propping up the Northern League table.

With no fixture on Sunday, Hawks will then turn their attentioins to the end of season play offs, hoping for a big improvement to their availabilituy list.

Long term absentees Jeff Daniels, Colin Downie and Neil Abel won't be involved tonight, but Simon Mills could well return. "It's a situation that has caused us problems all season," says official John Neville. "But with a bit of luck - and we ain't had too much of that - we should get some, if not all, of the injured lads fit for the play offs which open up on Tuesday night."

Hawks and Murrayfield have occupied the bottom two places almost from the word go and they currently stand level on points.

"It's an important game in so much as no team ever wants to finish at the foot of the table, added Mr Neville. "A victory would also come as a timely boost."

Fourteen year old netminder Wesley Fawthrop is again in line to back up Barry Hollyhead while there could be action too for the likes of Ian Hough and Wayne Slater.

Daniel's absence again leaves Hawks with just one import, Finnish star Ismo Rokala left to carry the weight of goalscoring responsibility.

The Hawks play off fixtures are: Tuesday February 24: Home v Telford; Sunday March 1: Home v Cardiff; Tuesday March 3: Away v Fife; Saturday March 7: Away v Cardiff; Sunday March 8: Home v Peterborough; Wednesday March 11: Away v Peterborough; Saturday March 14: Away v Telford; Sunday March 15: Home v Fife.

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