Nottingham Panthers v Sheffield Steelers

Bruce Richardson and Jason Hewitt go head-to-head

Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers clash at the National Ice Centre on Saturday with the match a near sell-out.

Panthers new signing Mario Larocque flew into the UK on Saturday morning and will make his debut.

Nottingham coach Corey Neilson said: "When we are recruiting our players they know what this series means."

Steelers coach Dave Matsos added: "This is a huge game in our season and we are ready for the Panthers."

Panthers started the season as the league's form side. They are joint-top of the Elite League and in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, but after nine wins in their first ten matches, they have since lost five of their last nine.

Reigning league and play-off champions Sheffield have made a dreadful start to the campaign with just three wins from 13 matches, and are just two points clear of basement club Hull.

Panthers won the first league meeting between the two sides with a 5-2 victory in Sheffield back in September.

Neilson added: "Sheffield in the last couple of years have brought the best out in us.

"My guys do get motivated for the likes of Hull and Edinburgh but it's not the same as playing in front of 6,500 people."

Sheffield are currently 10 points behind the Panthers but have two games in hand.

Steelers forward Jason Hewitt said: "None of us in the room feel the title is gone, we look at the other teams all closely bunched together, we know that with two or three good weekends we will be right back up there with them."

Once again the game is proving so popular, individual tickets have gone on sale for the executive boxes at the National Ice Centre.

Panthers general Gary Moran said: "This game always catches the public's attention. We always enjoy a good atmosphere at our home games but there's no denying there is something special about Nottingham versus Sheffield clashes.

"The Nottingham fans will outnumber the Sheffield supporters by about 12 to one so our players will have a wave of emotion to ride on when they skate out.

"It's the start of a crucial period for us with three games in four nights and we're aiming to get off to a flyer."