Steeldogs looking for double home booster

Andre Payette’s side remain an outside bet for the regular season title, sitting in fifth place, albeit 10 points behind current leaders Guildford Flames.

Barring a late-season calamity, Sheffield’s second club should have all but assured a post-season play-off spot, so impressive has their form been since the beginning of October, coming as something of a surprise to some followers of the league.

With Sheffield Steelers in Scotland all weekend in the Elite League, the Steeldogs will hope to bring more bodies through the door as they first welcome second-bottom Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday (7.30pm), before playing host to second-placed Slough Jets on Sunday (5.30pm face-off).

It will be the second visit to South Yorkshire in just over a week for Peterborough who returned to The Fens on the back of a 4-1 defeat last time out, a result which assured Payette’s team of a semi-final place in the Premier League Cup.

By contrast, Slough will present a different kind of challenge as Doug Sheppard’s side have got the better of the Steeldogs on all three previous occasions.

Overall, Payette does expect the second half of the season to be tougher for his young side, although he retains total belief in their ability to cope.

He said: “The second half of the season is always the toughest, but with us continuing to punch above our weight, it will be harder for us.

“There are no easy games in this league and slipping up over a weekend can cost you a few places in the table, especially as so many games are going to overtime with lower-placed teams picking up at least a point a game.

“We have to continue to work hard and concentrate for the full 60 minutes every night, but I have every confidence in my team.”

A special discounted ticket offer is on offer for this weekend, which sees prices reduced if they buy tickets for both games on Saturday.

For both games, tickets are priced as follows: Adults £15, Concessions £10, Child £5 (Under-8s free), family £36.

Single game prices: Adult £9, Concessions £6.50, Child £3.50 (Under-8s free), family £20.

Twitter: @philarra