Blackburn Hawks assistant manager Graham Lomax is worried that his ice hockey side will be short of numbers ahead of their double header with Sheffield Spartans this weekend.

Hawks travel to Yorkshire tonight in the first of the play-offs, an end-of-season home a-and-away competition between the top four teams in the English National Ice Hockey League.

The return leg will be played tomorrow at the Arena (face-off 6pm), but Lomax is concerned that the short notice of the games may leave his side missing several key players.

"It is going to be difficult to get a full squad together," admitted Graham.

"The games were scheduled at short notice and some of the lads have made other plans. We also have a few injury doubts, so it could be tough.

"Obviously, we need as many people available as possible.

"Sheffield are a good, hard working young team and we are going to have to be at our best if we want to take anything from the games.

"Other teams have found it difficult to go to Sheffield this season so it will be a tricky fixture for us.

"Nottingham actually finished inside the top four ahead of Sheffield, but for one reason or another they dropped out and the Spartans have taken their place."

Hawks will play home and away legs against Billingham and Whitley as well as their two games this weekend, the team with the most points from their six games will take the top prize.