VIDEO: Sheffield Steelers must neutralise Braehead Clan forwards

The champions travel to Braehead Clan, who have the ability to punish any defensive lapses, believes Steels asst coach Darrell Hay.

“Braehead has a good a top line as anybody in that league. Matt Keith, Stefan Meyer Alex Leavitt up there, they are very talented offensively. They can put numbers up like anybody” he said.

It promises to be a tough trip all round, with the Scots backed by “a pretty hostile building.”

Hay pointed to the return of former Clan defenceman Zack Fitzgerald: “They are going to have a full house of Scots yelling at him, so, there is going to be a lot of energy.”

Clan will be desperate to get both points: they are middle of the table in both the Elite League and the Gardiner Conference.

Last Sunday they put ten past Edinburgh Capitals, away, and will want to build on that.

After the Clan game, Steelers head back south to prepare for the visit of bottom side Coventry Blaze.

“They have the goaltender of the year last year (Brian Stewart) and is starting to get really hot” said Hay.” It’s a team that has made some moves to get back to playing how their coach wants them, which is very simple and keeping pucks away from the net.”

Hay said Blaze don’t possess the explosive offence that Braehead has, but they “execute well, they give you fits. They (both rival teams) are two different types of challenges but two big tests for us at the weekend.”