SNL leaders Paisley Pirates return to action after a three-week break with a pair of difficult fixtures his weekend.
The unbeaten Pirates host second-placed Aberdeen Lynx on Saturday ahead of a trip to Edinburgh Capitals SNL the following day and Head Coach Ian Turley is expecting two tough games.
“We’ll be going into Saturday’s game knowing we’re up against a side who are also unbeaten in the league this season,” said Turley.
“The Lynx are the big success story of the SNL in recent times, having gone from being whipping boys a few years ago to a team that won the play-offs last season.
“I was delighted with our last display when we beat Kirkcaldy with hardly a fit player in our ranks and it’ll take that kind of effort and commitment against Aberdeen.
“We drew 3-3 with them at their place at the beginning of November and it was a real end-to-end game – I can’t see the return being any less of a thriller.
“We’re hoping to be nearer full strength than we were against the Kestrels in terms of numbers and fitness levels, and it will take the same sort of sixty minutes of full on playing if we want to have any chance of coming away with something.
Sunday’s visit to Murrayfield sees the Pirates face a Capitals outfit who have struggled for form this season.
Martin Cingel’s team are languishing near the foot of the table, but Turley refuses to take them lightly.
“Edinburgh haven’t had as successful a season as they might have anticipated, considering the strength of their squad, but I think there’ve been a number of games where players have been taken away to bench for their Elite League squad, and that’s maybe affected some of their results,” he added.
“What I’m absolutely certain about is that they’ll all be available and raring to go against us, just like they’ve been every other time we’ve played them.
“With Murrayfield not being a particularly happy hunting ground for us in recent years, we’ll have to go there with our ‘A’ game if we want to keep gathering points.”
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday
Dundee Tigers v Kilmarnock Storm
Moray Typhoons v Dundee Comets
Paisley Pirates v Aberdeen Lynx
Sunday
Edinburgh Capitals SNL v Paisley Pirates
(Image permission: Al Goold Photo)
