Hull Seahawks coach Matty Davies on plans for 2023-24 NIHL National roster

While there has been no clear admission that their post-season hopes are all but over, last weekend’s two defeats to Raiders have left the Seahawks with a mountain to climb in which to try and make the top eight.

Mathematically, with just 10 games remaining, Davies’s team can still qualify for the play-offs but, if results go against them this weekend, they could actually see those hopes extinguished.

With captain Sam Towner being announced as the first player to be returning for the 2023-24 campaign earlier this week, it’s clear head coach and co-owner Davies is already looking further into his club’s future.

Talks have been held with other members of the current roster, with Davies also no doubt having made enquiries in those areas he feels the need to strengthen.

Ahead of a weekend double-header with second-bottom Bees IHC, who are three points better off than Hull, Davies said: “For me, it’s about building for next year.

“I know this season has been disappointing on many fronts in terms of on the ice, but we have made some real strides off the ice, it’s not all doom and gloom. We’re here, we’re back and I believe everything about the club is going in the right direction.

"We’re going to be a very different team next season. Hull fans want to see a winning team and I probably want a winning team more than they do, I can promise them that.

“And we’re going to have one. We need a core of the team back and then we’ll add around it.”

On the weekend’s two games, Davies added: “These are another two tough games where we’ll both be desperate to beat each other in order not to finish bottom.

“We’re both teams that have had tough years but I expect us to win both games and our fans really deserve that. We just have to keep going,keep getting better – and we need to finish the season strong.”

Elsewhere, Leeds Knights will look to enhance their regular season title prospects in their own double-header weekend with Bristol Pitbulls.

Ryan Aldridge’s team head south today before playing host tomorrow against Jamie Elson’s side (face-off 5.15pm).

Fourth-placed Sheffield Steeldogs will hope to put some distance between themselves and Swindon Wildcats – the team immediately below them when they head to Wiltshire today.