Round the Rinks, 9th March

Before we begin...

Sheffield call in the movers...Not just yet, admittedly, but it's been announced today that the Steelers are moving just up the road to Rotherham, into their own purpose-built 5000 seat arena in time for the 2011/2012 season. What makes this particularly special is that the club themselves will control the arena, and thus be the first club in Britain to do so-and this includes receiving the revenue...not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination. It will most likely make the Steelers the richest club in Britain once all is said and done...

Anyway, now that's out of the way...on to the Round the Rinks...

Basingstoke: Just the one game for the Bison this weekend, and it's Cardiff at the Silverdome. Having now lost their game in hand and with Edinburgh playing Hull that night, it's vital the Hampshire side keep winning to even have a chance at the playoff places. With the Devils now marking time until the end of the season, the Bison Nine must come out hard if they're to have any hope of sneaking back into eighth place...

Belfast: The Giants have two tough opponents in Nottingham tonight (covered, as usual, by the Giants webcast team) and Coventry on Sunday. The game at the Skydome is perhaps the more important, with the Giants having the chance to keep the championship race open for at least another week if they take a victory (and spoil their rivals' party to boot). However, the points are important as everyone settles into their final positions-the Giants still have an outside chance at second place if the Steelers falter, and so have their own goals to play for...

Cardiff: The Devils, too, can have an influence on events at both ends of the table as they face Basingstoke and Sheffield. With the team slowly returning to full fitness, a win on at least one of those nights is not out of the question, with several teams keeping an eye on the South Wales sides' progress and (in the case of Coventry and Edinburgh) cheering them on lustily on Sunday and Saturday respectively...

Coventry: The title can be won this weekend if the Blaze take maximum points from both Manchester and Belfast-a situation set up by the fine win in Sheffield on Wednesday. However, even if one of the games are lost, the title's destiny is still in the Midlanders' hands-it seems only a matter of time now before the EIHL title returns to the Sky Blue City...

Edinburgh: Mission Impossible gets slightly easier on Saturday as the Capitals face Hull on Humberside-however, the home tie against a Manchester side who can still improve their place in the table will be a test of the Scots' mettle-with Basingstoke only playing the one game this weekend they have the chance to go four points ahead of their rivals for the last playoff place, and you wouldn't bet against them doing it if they can stop the Phoenix's top scorer and his friends...

Hull: Edinburgh and Newcastle are the next two opponents for the Stingrays in their quest for pride-after doing the Capitals a favour on Wednesday night by beating Basingstoke, the Bison will be hoping that the Stingrays extend the same courtesy to them by beating the Capitals. Sunday night is a dead-rubber game, however, with the Vipers simply looking to consolidate their position and the Stingrays, again, playing for little more than ninth place..

Manchester: Coventry and Edinburgh are the opponents as the Phoenix, like the Devils, enjoy their moment as a potential influence on both season-end battles. Beat the Blaze and the title race is still (just about) open, beat the Capitals and the same can be said of the playoff race. There will be more than just the eyes of Greater Manchester on the Phoenix this weekend...

Newcastle: Consolidation is the order of the day for the Vipers, with the game against Hull nothing more than fixture fulfilment. However, Saturday's game against Sheffield is another one which could influence the title race, so the Vipers had best prepare themselves for a real battle...

Nottingham: Belfast are the sole opponents this weekend-with the Panthers needing a win in the chase for third place-the right result will bring them within a point of the Giants. It's probably little more than window-dressing, but while the East Midlanders can still influence who they will face as playoff opponents themselves, every point counts...

Sheffield: The Steelers have to win, and keep winning. It's as simple as that. Lose to either Newcastle or Cardiff and the title dream is gone. With their last away game coming in South Wales, the Yorkshiremen need maximum points to give them the best possible chance of catching the Blaze and maximising the advantage of their last three games being at the Hallam Arena. Then, it's all in the hands of Coventry and their opponents...

That's your weekend preview...keep keeping your eye on the puck...