Nottingham Panthers coach Corey Neilson insists beating Hull on Saturday is more important than settling a score with Stingrays' Rick Kozak.

The forward will return from a ban after his attack from behind on Marc Levers when the sides last met.

Neilson said: "We play with emotion, we play hard and we don't need anything else to light a fire under us.

"Kozak in or out the line-up, that's a secondary thing. Talking to my players the incident is fresh in their minds."

Kozak was initially banned for ten games following the incident at the National Ice Centre last month and that decision was upheld when Hull appealed.

The Elite League also recently handed out long suspensions to Cardiff's Brad Voth and Belfast's player-coach Steve Thornton.

But following a disciplinary meeting last week, it was decided that all three players would have their bans reduced.

Panthers also have action on Sunday night when they travel to Sheffield Steelers. Nottingham won the first meeting between the two sides this season, skating to a 5-4 victory at the NIC.

Forward Marc Levers told BBC Radio Nottingham: "It's going to be pumped as usual with it being Sheffield.

"I know how important it is to the boys and how important it is to the fans. It's got to be a game where we play well and get the win."