ISMO Rokala will give struggling Lancashire Hawks a timely boost this weekend and the beleaguered players have even held a "clear the air" meeting to try and get to the bottom of their poor form.

The Flying Finn, a popular character at the Arena last season, has flown in to replace defenceman Mika Pynnonen, who has been released.

Rokala will ice in both weekend games in the National League - at Guildford tonight and at home to Telford on Sunday (face off 6pm).

Coach Jim Pennycook is looking for an about turn in fortunes: "Results have not gone well, everyone can see that, but we have sat down this week and thrashed a few things out. The upshot of all the talk is that the players are united and keen to get things moving forward again.

"We know we are competing in difficult circumstances, other clubs have thrown substantial amounts of money at their teams, but it is up to us to go out there every game and give 100 per cent.

"Hopefully we will see an improvement in both performances and results, but this weekend could hardly be more difficult. Guildford and Telford are two fine sides and on the face of it we probably aren't given much of a chance.

"But we have ability within the squad and over the next couple of months the opportunity is there to show people what we can do."

Hawks have had a miserable time of it of late, even Canadian sharpshooter Adrian Lomonaco has gone off the boil in terms of goals.

Lomonaco was a feared forward early season and Pennycook hopes that his main goal supplier can start to reproduce the sort of form that took him to the top of the points charts late in the autumn.

There is no doubt that the arrival of Rokala will be a boost, not least to the supporters who have become increasingly frustrated after a serious of below-par displays.

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