Returning Finnerty keen to stay out of the spotlight in Sheffield

The 32-year-old enjoyed an illustrious playing career with the South Yorkshire club between 2006-09, winning two play-off trophies and an Elite League title.

But his return to the club as coach in 2011 proved to be less fruitful, with two barren seasons leading to his swift dismissal three days after the Steelers’ season ended prematurely with a first-round play-off exit for the second successive year.

Within weeks he was installed as the successor to Paul Gardner at Braehead, who had endured a difficult second season in the UK’s top flight, despite edging their way to the inaugural Gardiner Conference title.

League defeats on the opening weekend of the 2013-14 season to Dundee Stars and Hull Stingrays were the last thing Finnerty needed in his new post, but his team got their act together for the following weekend’s trip to Cardiff Devils, heading back to Scotland with an impressive 4-3 road win.

Five more away trips beckon for the Clan, starting with tonight’s visit to Belfast Giants ahead of tomorrow’s much-anticipated return for Finnerty to Sheffield.

“I’ve got a lot of good memories from my time in Sheffield and I’m excited to go back,” said Finnerty last night. “Last year I felt we had a great team there, a great group of guys – we just came up a little short.

“And what happened to me is what happens when you don’t win – especially in Sheffield. But I have no regrets, I had a great time there - it was a great platform to get your feet wet in the coaching ranks I learned a lot. But, it’s nice to get out to be honest.

“It’s like a breath of fresh air being up here, it’s a great organisation, a great set of fans and I’m really enjoying my time here.

“The match in Sheffield is nothing to do with me – it’s just a hockey game. Some guys like to make it about themselves, but I’ve certainly never been like that. This is about us going to Sheffield and looking to take both points.

“We’ll approach it exactly the same as we do any other game in Fife, Dundee wherever. I’m definitely not going to big it up - it will be just the same as when we roll into Belfast the night before.”

Finnerty’s former captain at Steelers, Jonathan Phillips, is looking forward to seeing his old boss again and expects him to get a warm reception from the Steelers’ fans.

“Anyone who has played for the club or has put effort in, like Ryan has, is going to get a good reception,” said Phillips.

“He’s perhaps going to want to prove a point and you always want to beat your previous team when you play against them.

“But we’ve got to treat it like any other game and not let outside issues affect anything. It looks like Braehead have put together another decent team so it’s going to be a tough game for us.”

Before Finnerty’s reunion with his former charges tomorrow (5pm), the Steelers will look to go top of Group B in the Challenge Cup when they head to Nottingham Panthers tonight.

Nottingham won 4-1 in Sheffield on the opening weekend but a revenge win for Doug Christiansen’s team would see them leap above their arch rivals in the group standings, something not lost on Phillips.

“We let ourselves down in that first game against Nottingham,” he added. “That’s not to take anything away from Nottingham because they are a very good team.

“There’s no bigger game for us and it’s always a great atmosphere at the NIC. If we win we go top of the group so there’s plenty at stake.”