Telford Tigers will be ordered to ramp up the pressure against Guildford Flames and Hull Pirates this weekend, as the so-called business end of the season gets under way.
Tom Watkins’ men are twelve points off the pace at the top of the EPL, with leaders Basingstoke having a four-point gap to second-placed Milton Keynes.
That record means Telford must win virtually every game to have a chance of retaining the title they collected last season – starting with Saturday’s trip to Guildford.
And Watkins, who was visibly fuming after last Sunday’s loss to Peterborough, is targeting a single-game approach to his side’s belated title bid.
He said: “At this stage of the season, every game is important. You could say we’ve still got a chance, or we’re out of it, but right now we’re just looking at two points every night.
“We need to focus on that and see where we go from there. We’re a long way off the pace, so we need character and experience throughout the dressing room, and on the ice.
“I want all the guys to be leaders, and not just the captain, or assistant captains.
“I was really pleased when Joe Miller lost his temper last weekend. It was good to see him playing with that edge, and a bit of grit and determination. It gives the team an extra dimension.”
Saturday’s trip to Surrey will be the final chance for Telford to claim points at the Guildford Spectrum, after two successive away defeats to the Flames.
Watkins added: “We’ve got a very good, hard-working bunch of players and it has been a tough season to date. The guys need to pick themselves up and come back hard this weekend.
“We haven’t won in Guildford so far this year, so that will be a major motivator for everyone to go there and get the two points.”
Sunday’s visit of Hull, meanwhile, will see Telford face a Pirates side that could yet make an unlikely charge for the play-offs.
The Humberside men struggled to make an impact at the start of the season, but since Christmas, have beaten Bracknell, Manchester and Peterborough.
“Everyone has got something to play for right now,” Watkins said.
“They’ve got good netminding and are tough to break down. They’ve added two very good players in Nathan Salem and James Chilcott, and are quite dangerous.
“Hull have turned a few teams over recently and they will come here to play. We need to be mindful of that.”
Sunday’s game against Hull Pirates, at Telford Ice Rink, faces off at 6pm. For tickets, go to www.tigershockeyuk.com.
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