HULL Stingrays will present the first test of exactly how tough the Sheffield Steelers team of 2008-09 really is.
The East Yorkshire team will be led by Canadian enforcer Jonathan Bernier and Steeler Jason Hewitt expects them to be a physical outfit.
"I imagine Hull will be running around in the pre-season games," said the winger.
"It looks like they have signed quite a tough team and will be looking to prove themselves.
"The games (August 30 and 31) might be the first big test of our team toughness because I don't think the German team (SC Bietigheim-Bissingen, back to back on August 23 and 24) will play like that.
"But we will have to show that team toughness all year as we will not be relying on one guy for that."
Hewitt believes the arrival of new players Scott Basiuk and Nathan Gillies will add more grit across the line-up.
"We should be feistier. I have played against Basiuk at Manchester Phoenix and he plays hard," said the 24-year-old Mancunian. "I don't know Gillies but everybody says he's a feisty player."
Hewitt, now preparing for his fourth season at Steelers, does not believe sacked Sheffield enforcer Jeremy Cornish will be planning to wage a vendetta when he arrives at the Arena next season with new club Basingstoke Bison.
"I don't think he will be gunning to have a go at anyone in particular, I don't know who he'd go after in our line-up," he said.
"He always plays the same way, though, and that's what he will do against us. He knows what his job is and will do it."
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