Kirkcaldy Kestrels and Paisley Pirates are set for what could be a pivotal couple of days in the SNL this weekend.

Kestrels currently lead the table by two points from the Pirates, although the Braehead-based outfit do have a game in hand.

With the head-to-head record between the teams this season dead level, the title could be decided on goal difference and with the Kestrels holding a healthy 29 goal advantage over their rivals they are favourites to claim top spot.

Kestrels host Dundee Comets on Sunday in a repeat of last week’s clash on Tayside which the league leaders edged 4-3.

Forward Daryl Venters (above) said he expects the title race to go down to the wire.

“The league is so tight this year and great to play in,” he said. “Looking at the table it does look like it’s between us and Paisley, but we still have two games to play and anything can happen.

“We knew anything but a win at Dundee last week would mean the SNL title would be out of our hands. We didn’t play well enough until the last five minutes of the second period where we picked up the pace and finally got the result we needed.”

Pirates face a weekend on the road, travelling to Kilmarnock Storm on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s trip to Edinburgh Capitals SNL.

Head Coach Ian Turley admitted this will be his team’s most difficult weekend of the season.

“Storm are coming off their first win of the season when they meet us, so they’ll be flying,” said Turley. “It’s never easy playing on their tight rink and their win will have given them a massive dose of confidence. We know they’ll be right up for our visit.

“Capitals lost at Moray last weekend, so they’ll be very keen to get their own show back on the road. It’s a late face-off, as their Elite League side are in action first, and they’ll no doubt be bolstered by the inclusion of some higher league players.

“It’s going to be a really hard task to come away from Murrayfield with two points, but we’re entitled to think we’re well equipped for that task, however difficult it’s going to be.

“We might already be through to the last eight in the play-offs, but we want to finish as high as we possibly can, and these are the kind of matches which can define your season.”

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday

Dundee Tigers v Edinburgh Capitals SNL
Kilmarnock Storm v Paisley Pirates
Moray Typhoons v Aberdeen Lynx

Sunday

Edinburgh Capitals SNL v Paisley Pirates
Kirkcaldy Kestrels v Dundee Comets

(Image permission: Gordon Venters)