Round the Rinks, February 20th...

As promised, here's your preview of the weekend...

Very quickly, though...and the last word on the All-Star game following my thoughts earlier...for a player's perspective on Thursday night's game, have a look at Steelers TV, who, as well as saving the All-Star Diary below with the loan of a laptop, also spoke to Jeff Legue for his views on the event-it's well worth a look...

Now, onto brief pen-pictures of the games-you know the form by now...

Double-Headers:

Basingstoke v Manchester: It looks like the misery is far from over for Basingstoke, as they face the Phoenix home and away. It's looking more and more likely that this is the Bison's last season in the EIHL, and with a ten point gap (at the time of writing) to ninth place there is only pride left to play for. Rumours, fuelled by his being placed on a line with Dan Carlson and Adam Calder for the whole of the All-Star game while others were switched almost at will, are gathering pace linking club talisman Greg Chambers with a move to Coventry next season, and Manchester have their tails up in the chase for playing position. Couple that with some shaky recent form from Kevin Reiter, and you fear for the goal-judges thumbs on both nights faced with the potent Phoenix attack, tired or not.

Edinburgh v Coventry: The Blaze make the trip to Scotland and then are followed back by the Capitals on Sunday as fourth faces eighth. As recently as last season I'd be confident in predicting a four-point weekend for the Midlanders-however, this time round with the Caps beginning their traditional late-season charge, I'm not so sure...could we see the first Edinburgh win at the Skydome of the EIHL era?

Saturday:

Hull v Cardiff: Could be quite a close game, this one, with both teams needing every point in the scramble for playoff position...and the Stingrays at full strength for the first weekend in some considerable time-one to keep an eye on if not go out of your way to watch...

Nottingham v Newcastle: Corey Neilson looked very assured indeed at the All-Star game without the threat of being checked...however, against the Vipers he may need to look over his shoulder a little more, as the Geordies will be chasing a valuable win at the expense of the Panthers' jostle for second position behind Sheffield...and they'll be chasing very hard indeed.

Sunday:

Sheffield v Hull: This game is Yorkshire's version of the Prince and the Pauper, and will once again see the Stingrays hoping to at least delay Sheffield's title celebrations while at the same time earning themselves valuable points in the playoff dogfight...every non-Steeler fan will be hoping they're successful...

Newcastle v Belfast: This one should be tasty after Vipers coach Rob Wilson has said that the Giants "belong in a circus" after their last meeting...there is some bad-blood which has been built up nicely this season by both teams...expect fireworks...

And that's your EIHL weekend in a nutshell...