Sunday's visitors to Sheffield Arena, Nottingham Panthers, have averaged five goals in each of their road matches so far.

While Belfast Giants, where Steelers travel tonight, are normally high scorers on home ice too, although they only beat Cardiff Devils 1-0 on Thursday.

Sheffield are a fourth-placed team in terms of offensive output and while they will try and improve on that, it is obvious that their priority this weekend is to defuse their rivals' offensive firepower before scoring themselves.

Tomorrow will see the best of British face each other on opposite sides.

David Clarke, of Notts, is the nation's highest home-grown scorer with 11+4 in nine games, with Ashley Tait in second slot in the top points' scorers chart with 6+8 in eight.

Robert Dowd, incidentally, is 10th highest-scoring Brit with 3+4.

Defenceman Steve Munn says he will play this weekend despite continued pain from a heel injury.

Meanwhile, Ryan Finnerty promises Steelers' crowd there will be no let-up on Panthers tomorrow night.

The Steelers forward accepts the side has coasted a little in recent games when they have built up a big lead over inferior opposition.

But against an exciting, offensive Panthers side, he recognises that they must keep at them all night.

The Canadian said: "Nottingham have skilled forwards but not a ton of depth at the back end.

"We have to make sure we put lots of pressure on Panthers, we must not give them time to breathe. If we do that we can certainly win this game and tie the series (Steelers lost 4-5 at the NIC last month.)

"Every player has to be on the same page. Against Nottingham you never lose your focus. and intensity, every shift you give it your all and come back to the bench exhausted. That's the way we like to play and that's when we are at our best."

What do you think? Post your comments below.

READ MORE

More Ice Hockey
More rugby league
More rugby union
More boxing
Sports columnists
All sport categories