Game Preview: Them Lot...Again...(25/1/14 Sheffield Arena)

So by my working out this is game 7 of (at least) 12 against the outgoing Elite League Champions. If ever the argument comes up about the rivalry dying a death, there's your stat.

But on the other hand, it is still selling out the NIC, and giving us the largest crowds of the season. Maybe it isn't dying so much. A bit of retweaking with the league format....that's for another day. Now, we've got a game going on.

The Filth
The Panthers may welcome in new Canadian D-man Phil Oreskovic (who could use a WWE repackage; at 6'4" and 245lbs he'd make a decent wrestler with a new name) - they claim he'll debut Sunday, but that might be his home debut against Hull, rather than his full debut, potentially in the Motorpoint. He may (or may not) join returning imports Craig Kowalski (bugger) Lynn Loyns (bugger) and Brent Henley (***SELF CENSORSHIP***). Their latest paid monkey, Joe Grimaldi, is suspended due to his part of the Skydome Handshake Shambles. Eric Werner remains sidelined, as do Steven Lee and Robert Farmer.

The Steelers could have a full roster to choose from, if Steven Goertzen recovers from the knock that kept him out of Sunday's 6-5 victory over Dundee. If that's the case, where does Max Lacroix fit? Last week I said drop Fata, then he had a fruitful weekend. Sirianni? Scored a couple again. If anyone, I'd say its Nate Dicasmirro's time to sit, but then I hear the arguments for keeping him in. Its a nice scenario to have, but somebody needs to sit to let little dynamite back into the side.

Prediction
A nice professional job please. Hits thrown (when necessary), strong PK (hopefully not too necessary) and a good victory over them lot. Two points will help for the battle to be 3rd seed.

Oh, and if somebody fancies beating ten shades of whatnot out of Henley, more's the better.

Sheffield 5-2 Nottingham

Agree? Disagree? Want to rant and rave at us?

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Liam