Sheffield Steelers only focussed on Fife Flyers showdown

There will be plenty of time to turn attention to the three-day trip to South Wales for the Steelers, which starts with an Elite League encounter on Friday night before the two go head-to-head in the Challenge Cup Final at the Viola Arena 48 hours later.

The Steelers aim to still be in pole position when they head to Cardiff time, something they can ensure by taking four points from this weekend.

However, that task will be far from simple at this late stage of the regular season with just eight games remaining, bringing the Steelers up against a Fife team who have reignited their playoff bid in recent weeks before tomorrow’s third and final visit to Guildford Flames’ Spectrum rink, a venue where they have yet to win this season.

The Steelers are still top of the standings having snapped a four-game losing streak with wins over title rivals Nottingham Panthers and Belfast Giants last time out. It leaves them one point ahead of a Devils side who have three games in hand, while third-placed Nottingham are five points further back with two games in hand.

“We really can’t look past Saturday, let alone the weekend, because we need all the points we can get going into that league game at Cardiff,” said the Steelers’ captain. “We’re going to have to rely on other teams to lose games as well but the intention is to go down there still ahead of them in the standings after this weekend.

“All we can do is take care of ourselves and then see where that takes us.”

In the NIHL National, Leeds Chiefs will look to ensure their slim chances of making the playoffs remain alive when they host Bracknell Bees at Elland Road tonight.

The visitors are one of two teams the Chiefs can still overhaul in order to secure a top-eight spot and qualify for the post-season.

Chiefs’ player-coach Sam Zajac said nothing less than four points would do from a weekend which sees his team stay home on both days when they welcome Basingstoke Bison tomorrow.

“It really is do or die for us this weekend,” said Zajac. “ We need to beat Bracknell in regulation and four points is really all that matters.”

Elsewhere, Hull Pirates can do Leeds a huge favour if they take four points in regulation from their double-header with eighth-placed Raiders IHC.

Sheffield Steeldogs travel to Basingstoke tonight before hosting leaders Telford Tigers tomorrow.