Leeds Knights v Sheffield Steeldogs: Yorkshire rivals seeking consistency at start of hectic spell

Koulikov brings his Sheffield Steeldogs team to Elland Road on Thursday night for what is the first of three games in four nights for both teams.

There is little to choose between the two team heading into the Yorkshire derby clash, just two points that came about courtesy of Sheffield’s 3-2 win over Leeds in South Yorkshire just under three weeks ago.

It’s fair to say that - at least compared to their mutual White Rose rivals and current league leaders Hull Seahawks - neither team is firing on all cylinders quite yet.

But there is plenty of time for that to change. They only need to look at the turnaround in form enjoyed by Hull last season come the end of January, when they won 15 of their last 16 regular season to achieve their best-ever finish of second.

Hull ended the season empty-handed when losing out to Leeds in the play-off final, but have essentially picked up where they left off in the Spring and if either Sheffield or Leeds hope to repeat their trophy success from last season - the Steeldogs edged out the Knights in the National Cup play-off final - they are going to need the kind of consistency that has eluded them both so far.

A win for Leeds would draw them level on points with the Steeldogs ahead of a Friday night trip to Solway and a visit on Sunday from reigning champions.

Koulikov’s players get Friday off to recover before a Saturday trip to rock-bottom Bristol Pitbulls is followed by a visit on Sunday from Milton Keynes Lightning.

There was little to choose between the two teams when they met at Ice Sheffield on October 11 - Ollie Knagg’s late strike settling the tussle in favour of the hosts, and Koulikov expects a similar encounter in West Yorkshire.

“You've got to look at Leeds and who they had in those first six or eight game,” said Koulikov. “There were a lot of top-end clashes and sometimes it doesn't matter how good your team is. If you lose one game, maybe you lose a bit of confidence.

“If you lose another one, it just starts becoming a bit like, ‘oh my god, when are we going to win? When are we going to go on a run?’

“We kind of had this, but we maybe didn't have as tough of a schedule as Leeds. It's just a little bit of inconsistency - but on paper and also the history of Leeds and the coach that they have in Ryan (Aldridge), you know that they're going to come through good.

“Somebody said to me two weeks ago, ‘Leeds is not the same, Leeds is this, Leeds is that’

“I said: ‘Just wait, they'll find their feet, they'll be one of the top teams in that pack. And my view hasn't changed in that.”

On his own team’s form, Koulikov is pleased with the progress being made – six wins from 12 has them currently sat fifth, one place above Leeds – if not necessarily the points return.

"For two weeks, we've been speaking about closing the gap on the top three, top four. and but for small margins here and there, we would have," he added.

"I feel the performances on the ice were definitely deserving of more and if you turn those around once or twice, you're in the mix at the top.

“I'm pleased with the progression, not pleased with the points we've taken in the last two weeks.”