Payette keen to make life tough for big-spending Guildford

Guildford, regular season champions-elect, visit Ice Sheffield (7.45pm) as firm favourites in the two-legged encounter given that they operate on one of the biggest budgets in the league and have beaten Sheffield in four of the previous five meetings between the two sides this season.

“Our budget is second- or third-lowest in the league,” said Payette. “They operate on the biggest budget in the league – that’s the difference.

“I think they are running with six imports or something like that in a four-import league – and every one of them is quality.

“It took us until January to go and get our fourth import – it really is like putting David up against Goliath.”

Barring a calamity, Guildford will be crowned EPL regular season champions – possibly this weekend - as they currently enjoy an eight-point lead over second-placed Manchester Phoenix, the team they defeated in the semi-finals.

The Steeldogs, possibly with one eye on Tuesday night’s first leg – the second leg will be played in Guildford on Wednesday March 28 – went down 5-1 at Swindon Wildcats on Saturday, but remain in third place in the league standings, four points behind Manchester. They booked their place in the final with a 1-0 aggregate win over Milton Keynes Lightning.

The Steeldogs sole success against Guildford came in a 3-2 shoot-out victory on home ice back in October, but Payette backs his team to secure what could prove to be a vital advantage going into the second leg - however slender.

“I am optimistic because I have a team who have come through every big game so far this season and I believe we can do so again,” added Payette.

“We are a second year team, but I think to have a realistic chance of winning over the two legs, we need to win on home ice – a one-goal lead might be enough - but I know we are up against a very good team.”

In an effort to create an intimidating atmosphere at Ice Sheffield, Payette is calling on all the city’s hockey fans - whoever they support - to turn up and cheer on a locally-developed team.

“We are a team from this city, whereas most other clubs, including Guildford, take their players from all over the country,” said Payette.

“These lads have given everything during the course of this year to get where we are now and they fully deserve everything they get.

“We want as many people as possible to come down on Tuesday night and get behind our team.

“When we’ve played in Guildford this year they’ve had sell-outs and it’s been a hostile atmosphere - we want to make it the same up here.”

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Twitter: @philarra