Rematch offers Hull opportunity to take the sting out of Vipers

Rob Wilson's side led the Elite League at one stage but, following a run of one win in 11 games, have lost touch with the leading pack.

After a disastrous start, bottom club Stingrays have now won four of their last six games, the latest being a 5-3 win over Vipers in Hull last Sunday.

"They've got their No 1 goalie back so they'll have been given a lift already," said Cloutier.

"We know we can't afford to take anyone lightly but I'm extremely pleased with the way our guys have been playing lately when we've pushed the top teams very close.

"Newcastle got off to a great start and while they may have hit a bit of a bump – as all teams do – they're still a good team."

Defenceman James Hutchinson hopes to return after being sidelined for a second spell with a hand injury and will face a late fitness test before tonight's game.

Stingrays return to home ice tomorrow for the visit of title hopefuls Nottingham Panthers, where they will be hoping for a repeat of the 5-4 success they enjoyed over Panthers when the two sides last met in East Yorkshire shortly before Christrmas.

Defenceman Scott Basiuk says he wants to help bring some stability to Sheffield Steelers when he makes his long-awaited return to the line-up for tonight's trip to Belfast Giants.

The 29-year-old has been out since the middle of September when he required surgery to a shoulder injury he sustained playing against Belfast in a 4-2 defeat at Sheffield Arena.

Basiuk returns to a Steelers side sitting second-from-bottom in the Elite League table without a win in five.

"I'm very excited about getting back out there," said Basiuk.

"It will be fun playing against another team and I just want to go and play my natural game and help bring some stability to the side to try and turn things around."

Steelers will complete their preparations for next weekend's Continental Cup Super Final in Grenoble, France, by welcoming fellow strugglers Edinburgh Capitals to Ice Sheffield tomorrow night (6pm).