Sheffield Steelers won’t be taking it easy against bottom club Milton Keynes Lightning

Team boss Tom Barrasso is acutely aware that MKL actually like playing at Sheffield Arena.

They won 3-2 at the House of Steel in September and were narrowly edged out 2-1 in January - a game in which Sheffield had to hang on in the face of a final barrage.

The goals in that second night came from the Anthony DeLuca-Evan McGrath-Jonathan Phillips line which is currently on peak form.

The coach said: "Every time we have played Milton Keynes the games have been extremely close and extremely hard fought.

"We know they will give us a very difficult game in here (Arena.)"

After that, the team will re-focus for Sunday's Belfast Giants trip.

Barrasso said MKL's impending exit from the league won't have any bearing on Saturday's game as far as he or his players are concerned.

“I know they have had a difficult year at times for them, losing players in and out, but last time they were in here they gave us everything they had."

The game is the last league home game of the season.

The playoffs start a fortnight later.

*Lightning are heading towards the new National League, which will comprise of a new team from Leeds, Sheffield Steeldogs and Hull Pirates, Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Hull Pirates, MK Lightning, Peterborough Phantoms, Raiders, Swindon Wildcats and Telford Tigers. The site of the new Leeds ice rink is on Elland Road near the football ground - the ice venue is expected to open this summer.