Coventry Blaze Head Coach Chuck Weber is anticipating another tight battle when his team head to Braehead Clan in the Elite League on Saturday night.

Clan emerged victorious 1-0 after overtime when the teams last met at the Skydome during October. Weber said: “Braehead are a team which is ahead of us in the table. We don’t want to fall back below .500 – we want to move forwards in the league standings.

“It is going to be a tough trip. They are a very good team and have a lot of talent in the line-up. We had a good battle against them in our building. At the time both sides were struggling offensively, but we are both getting better on that front.”

Blaze then play their final Challenge Cup Group B tie at home to Cardiff Devils on Sunday (5.15pm face-off) having already exited the competition.

Weber added: “I have played Cardiff more than any other team since I came here and Lordy (Player/Coach Andrew Lord) always has them well prepared. Every time we put the jersey on we want to do our best for Coventry Blaze, we won’t be treating this game any differently. We are looking for a good performance and there will be a pride factor too.”

Blaze hope to give a debut to new Slovakian defenceman Igor Bobcek, but Boris Valabik and Russell Cowley are injured while Kevin Noble is suspended.

(Image permission: Coventry Blaze)