The Basingstoke Bison could yet have a big say in the Elite League title race, starting on Saturday when the Coventry Blaze are the visitors to the Basingstoke Arena.

These sides met five times in the first three months of the current campaign, with the reigning Elite League champions reeling off four straight wins.

However, in the last meeting at the Skydome in November, a super human performance by visiting goalie Kevin Reiter ensured a 4-1 Bison victory.

Since that game, both sides have made a number of changes and one player has swapped sides. That is Corey LeClair, who tonight wears a Basingstoke jersey and has impressed since arriving in Hampshire.

Two new players on the Blaze roster are Canadian defenceman Blake Forsyth, a useful offensive defenceman and Swedish forward Erik Hjalmarsson.

Bison player/coach Eric Braff has pin pointed to others as the dangermen tonight that being deadly duo Adam Calder and Dan Carlson.

Braff said: "Coventry are tough to beat. Calder and Carlson are a great pair and work well offensively together. Shutting them down will give us a better opportunity to win."

Games between these Elite League rivals are always entertaining and the ticket are still available from the box office on (01256) 355266.

On Sunday, the Herd are back hunting silverware and the chance to play in another final, this time in the Challenge Cup.

They have it all to do in the semi-final second leg as they currently trail 5-2 from the first game against the Manchester Phoenix.

But, it is not over until the fat lady sings and at the moment she is still silent!

Looking ahead to the clash at Altrincham, Braff said: "We are not out of it. Anything can happen in 60 minutes. We are going into the game with that mindset, looking to work hard and see what happens."

Should the Bison make it to the final, they will face the Belfast Giants.