The Basingstoke Bison will hit the ice for their first of four games in five days on Wednesday night, when they face the Nottingham Panthers at the NIC.

So far this season, the Panthers have got the Bison's number winning all three of the previous league encounters, while honours were shared at the NIC in a Challenge Cup group game.

When last in Nottingham back in October, the Herd lost 5-2 with the top goal scorer Greg Chambers and head coach Ryan Aldridge scoring for the visitors. Johan Molin, Kevin Bergin, PC Drouin, Matt Myers and Sean McAslan lit the goal lamp for the home side.

Last weekend, the Bison snapped a three game losing streak in the league with an excellent 3-1 home win over the Manchester Phoenix with Danny Stewart, Greg Wood and Brad Cruikshank getting on the scoresheet. The following night the team lost 3-1 in Sheffield with Aldridge getting the team's lone marker.

Canadian defenceman Kyle Peto returned to the Basingstoke line-up for those games after three months out with a broken wrist. He is ready to go again against the Panthers, but experienced forward Steve Thornton will still be missing.

Talking ahead of the game with Nottingham, Bison head coach Aldridge said: "It is the first of a lot of games this week and we want to get off to a good start. We have played well against Nottingham this season, but have not got the results to show for it. Hopefully that will change this time."