Sheffield Steeldogs and Hull Pirates aiming to spring play-off surprise

The Steeldogs, who are the lowest seeded side in the EPL play-offs, start their post-season Group A campaign away at Peterborough Phantoms tonight. The Phantoms finished the regular season in fourth place, and have enjoyed some success over Sheffield, beating them four times out of six.

Despite their record against Peterborough player-coach Wood believes his side are capable of returning from Cambridgeshire with a positive result.

“Whoever is in the top eight are all very good teams but the sides we have to face are all beatable at home” said Wood. “If you can do the business at home and pick up a point or two on the road, you are in with a chance - that’s our aim.

“Peterborough is a tough place to play, a real challenge for our first game but we are in good form over the last seven or eight games, we’ve been competitive.

“We will be competitive and we will be there or thereabouts”.

Meanwhile, Hull Pirates player-coach Jason Hewitt has expressed his belief that his team can also reach the finals weekend in Coventry.

Hull, who finished the regular season in seventh, tonight visit in-form Basingstoke Bison in Group B, who have won their last seven games. The six-game regular season series was evenly split, although Hull will be seen by many as the underdogs going into tonight’s opener against a team who finished third.

“On our night, when we play the way we are supposed to, we are up there with the best sides in the league,” said Hewitt.

“But anyone who thinks we are going to be walkovers are going to be in for bit of a shock.”

Elsewhere this evening, Guildford Flames face a daunting trip to table-topping Telford Tigers in group A and Milton Keynes Lightning welcome Swindon Wildcats in the other group B fixture tonight.