Dave Matsos will go searching for the magical ingredient of team chemistry when Sheffield Steelers start their pre-season this weekend.
Back-to-back friendly games against German team SC Bietigheim-Bissingen at iceSheffield (Saturday and Sun,day 7pm and 6pm) will give the coach an opportunity to try players on different lines.
He may, however, have to go without Canadian defenceman Steve Munn, who yesterday was still awaiting his visa to arrive from the authorities.
Matsos says the games are a chance to test conditioning, adding: "We want to get our legs and lungs out.
"We are going to keep it (tactics) simple, for sure. I am probably going to change the lines up maybe every period of every game to see what chemistry we have got. The luxury of us coming in so early is that we can do that."
Matsos is aware that the Germans have been training since the first week of July.
"Physically they are going to kick their season off and are probably more on a similar page as a unit than we will be," he said.
"But our guys will compete hard, that's just the nature of the team we've built."
Matsos doesn't think there is a gap in quality between a German Second Division team like Biet-igheim and Sheffield.
"Anyone of our players are capable of playing in that league ... I don't think Steelers are going to get blown out. These guys (Bietigheim) are going to have their hands full," he forecast.
Meanwhile, Sheffield general manager Mike O'Connor has watched with interest how Nottingham Panthers have signed ex-Steeler Dan Tessier.
"He won't have gone there cheap, that's for sure," he said. "But Tess is an exceptional player."
Meanwhile, Sheffield Scimitars have re-signed key British players Lloyd Gibson and James Goodman for the English Premier League season.
Owner Martin Birch said: "Goody has been a 'back-bone players' for the Scim-itars and the longest-serving on the squad, a loyal Sheffield lad He will be eager to keep up his fitness under coach Ron Shudra."
"Gibson will also be keen to catch the eye of Shudra. This young player's talents will continue to grow. He is capable of playing both forward and defence; he is a valuable team player."
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