Steelers sweat over Sarich fitness

SHEFFIELD STEELERS will welcome Cardiff Devils to Ice Sheffield on wednesday night (7.30pm) looking to exact some swift Challenge Cup revenge.

Ben Simon's team suffered their only defeat of the season so far in Cardiff 10 days ago when they went down 5-4 to Gerad Adams's side after coming from four goals down to draw level in the opening Group B match.

Player-coach Simon will welcome Neil Clark back to the line-up after he missed the weekend's two wins over Newcastle Vipers to attend a wedding in North America. He will also hope to add defenceman Rod Sarich, who was ruled out of Sunday's road win in Whitley Bay due to injury.

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"We'll leave it as late as possible before making a decision on Rod," said Simon.

"We obviously want him back but if it's too early for for him we're not going to risk it."

Simon said he expected the situation surrounding the continued absence of forward Derek Campbell due to visa problems to be resolved "one way or another" in the next couple of days.

Cardiff come into the game buoyed by ending a run of three defeats in the league by defeating much-fancied belfast Giants 5-2 in South Wales on Sunday night.

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FORWARD Ryan Lake says he has rediscovered his "love" for hockey after agreeing to return to the ice with Hull Stingrays.

The 27-year-old, who last played in 2006, earned a new deal at his former club after impressing Stingrays' player-coach Sylvain Cloutier during recent training sessions.

"I stopped playing because I was going through the motions and the passion was just not there," said Lake, who also played for the Steelers in 2003-04.

"I would not have come back if I thought I couldn't compete at this level but I know I can."