WIDNES Wild will be looking to retain the trophy that they won last year when they take part in the NIHL North Laidler Division Play Offs this weekend on home ice.

Wild beat Sheffield Senators 2-1 in a closely fought final last April to secure the first piece of silverware in their history and, having missed out on the league title again this year, will be hoping to end the season on a high note in front of their home fans.

The semi-final line-up has finally been established after Wild were officially named runners-up by the league.

The management committee awarded them three points from the two away games that were left unplayed at the end of the regular season and this lifted them from fourth place up into second.

Wild were handed a 0-5 win, and two league points, for the game at Hull Jets because the hosts had been unable to ice a team for the arranged date - and the game away at Deeside was awarded as a 0-0 draw with one point being awarded to each team as the game had to be called off because match officials were not able to get to the venue due to adverse weather conditions.

The three additional points mean that Widnes end up on the same total as Hull Jets, 52, but finish above them in the league table by virtue of a better head-to-head record in games between the two teams.

Those two teams will now meet in the second semi final of the Play Offs which faces off at Planet Ice Widnes on Saturday at 7.30pm.

League champions Sutton Sting play fourth place Telford Tigers in the first semi final, which faces off at 4.30pm on Saturday and the winners of the two semi finals meet in the Play Off final on Sunday, face off 5.30pm.

Fixtures, Planet Ice Widnes:

Semi finals, Saturday: Sutton Sting v Telford Tigers, 4.30pm; Widnes Wild v Hull Jets, 7.30pm.

Final, Sunday: Face-off, 5.30pm.