Manchester Storm Player/Coach Omar Pacha has demanded improved performances from his team when they play against Gardiner Conference opposition.

Storm crashed 7-0 at Fife Flyers last Saturday and Pacha wants a response from his players when they face Edinburgh Capitals and Dundee Stars this weekend.

“The guys have to know the last game wasn’t acceptable in our Conference,” said Pacha. “Those are big games that you have to show up, but I think we’ll learn from it.

“We can do what we do at home, which is great, but when we go on the road we have to play the way we’re told and we have to execute the game plan.

“Those types of games we have to put behind us and move forward as a group.

Elite League leaders Nottingham Panthers host Belfast Giants on Sunday aiming to maintain their three-point cushion at the top of the table.

The game is Panthers’ only fixture this weekend, but forward David Clarke believes that will help the team recover from some bumps and bruises.

“I think having one game this weekend is a good thing. Guys have been grinning and bearing it and getting through,” Clarke told the Nottingham Post.

“Guys will be filtering back in time, but we’ve got a huge, huge game against Belfast to focus on. They’ve started well so it’s nice to have one game.

“We don’t change anything. Every game this year has been focused on individually.

“We’ve prepared for each opposition and Belfast will be no different. When you play big clubs, you know beating them can make a big difference down the line.”

Liam Stewart thinks Coventry Blaze are improving rapidly after making a disappointing start to the season.

Blaze have won two of their last three league games to climb the table and Stewart has targeted more success from this weekend’s games against Belfast and Edinburgh.

“We got off to a slow start, but things are starting to click – lines are starting to click,” he told Blaze TV.

“The guys are getting along in the room and that’s a big part of it – there’s only good things to come.

“It’d be good to get four points from this weekend – we’ve just got to go with a good mindset.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday

Braehead Clan v Fife Flyers
Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers (Cup)
Coventry Blaze v Belfast Giants
Manchester Storm v Edinburgh Capitals

Sunday

Dundee Stars v Manchester Storm
Edinburgh Capitals v Coventry Blaze
Fife Flyers v Braehead Clan (Cup)
Nottingham Panthers v Belfast Giants
Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils