Steelers imports still want best for club even if they are dropped, coach Aaron Fox says

James Bettauer and Jonas Liwing have been the main victims of Fox's pruning fork, although forward Janne Kolehmainen has also been a 'healthy scratch.'

The two defencemen missed last weekend's return to form against Nottingham Panthers and Belfast Giants.

"These are professional guys who have been doing this and have seen this culture for some time," said the team boss.

"So when you have two extra guys, (imports) guys know that there are going to be guys that are sitting out.

"They are never happy about it. But both Jonas and Bettsy have come to work and been very professional.

"They are on the ice with us, they practice with us - none of that changes."

Fox said he had tinkered with the line up to try and install "a little bit more grind and physicality.

He said of Bettauer, 28, - who has a two year deal with the club - and Liwing, 37: "Those guys will work hard, they will compete, they will battle in practice, and be ready to go when called upon.

"It is never easy. It is not something that I enjoy having to let guys know that they are out of our line-up.

"But we try to do it as professionally as we can from our side, I know that they are two big parts of our dressing room, character-wise.

"We will just continue the trend right now of doing this game by game."

Fox will decide on Saturday morning whether either or both skaters will be recalled against bottom of the EIHL-table Fife Flyers.

Sheffield were beaten 3-1 at Kirkcaldy earlier this month, one of a string of defeats which could have cost them the championship, in a worst-case scenario.

"The last time we played Fife we were not 100 per cent committed to doing a job," said Fox.

"I thought that throughout times of that game we may have deserved better but they have got to make the trip down here now and I liked the way we played this last weekend and if we can find a way to continue that trend then I like our chances."

Fife have lost 32 of their 47 league games so far.

But they have dangerous forwards in the form of Danick Gauthier, Tim Crowder and Carlo Finucci.