Steelers look to upset the Clan

SHEFFIELD STEELERS head to league newcomers Braehead Clan tonight looking to atone for the 4-0 home defeat they suffered at the hands of the Scottish side last month.

Defenceman Mark Thomas is expected to play his first game in six weeks after suffering a broken foot, while forward Ashley Tait also returns from injury.

"They are a solid team – last time we threw everything we had at them but they just threw it right back," said player-coach Ben Simon.

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"It's exciting to be playing in a different arena but we know it's going to be tough up there."

Simon admitted an easing of his team's schedule was welcomed, with his players facing only one game on each of the next two weekends, with a midweek league clash against Yorkshire rivals Hull in between.

During October, a seriously under-strength Steelers somehow managed to get through 10 games in a three-week period and were able to keep in touch with their title rivals.

"Our schedule is quite light - for a change - which is good because the guys can have more time to recharge more and we can work on a mot more stuff in training during the week," added Simon.

"Up until last weekend, it was pretty much full-on."

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Simon said he was pleased to see defenceman back in contention for competitive ice time.

"He's been training all week and an X-ray has showed the bone to have healed in his foot so we'll ease him back in.

"Hopefully, he'll pick up where he left off before his injury because he was a pleasant surprise for me in the first few weeks of the season.

"When you have any guy out it automatically creates a lot of stress and a lot of extra work in terms of trying to fill the gap left by the player who is injured.

"So just having Mark back is massive bonus."