New-look Telford Tigers face home tests

Telford Tigers will feature a much-changed line-up this weekend as they look to capitalise on home advantage against fellow play-off chasers Peterborough Phantoms and Bracknell Bees.

Player-coach Tom Watkins, along with Declan Ryan, Callum Bowley, Luke Brittle and Tom Soar, will be missing from the line-up for the next few weeks, as they travel to Germany for the World under-20s championships.

That has forced club bosses to borrow players from other clubs to fulfil vital English Premier League fixtures in the run-up to the festive season.

Telford will feature former Tigers stars Gareth Owen and Mark Lovell, as well as James Pease from Coventry Blaze.

Watkins will be keeping an eye on scores from the Great Britain team base in Garmish-Partenkirchen, and believes the Tigers face a series of crucial games.

He said: "We can pick up points on the road as much as at home and every game is important at the moment.

"It is always good to win at home for the fans, get a couple of points and put in some good performances.

"But it won't be easy with the much-changed roster and people just need to be a little bit patient and let the new guys get a feel for it.

"They are jumping into the unknown and without them we wouldn't have been able to ice a team, so it is a big thanks to those players."

The Tigers will also be borrowing players from Telford Titans – subject to fixtures – as well as a number of youngsters from the Coventry Blaze ENL side.

Saturday will see Telford face Peterborough for the first time this season, while their record against Sunday's opponents Bracknell stands at one win apiece.

Both sides are likely to be chief rivals for the eighth play-off spot, and Watkins wants his team to target a four-point weekend.

He added: "Every team in the league is beatable and on any night can pick up wins.

"Bracknell have got a couple of very good guys up front and we need to be aware of that, but we fear nobody. At home, we are looking to put in good performances and in all honesty the guys can get four points, but they mustn't be too down if they don't."

Both of the games at the ice rink face off at 5.30pm.

See also:

• Highlights: Telford Tigers v Milton Keynes Lightning

• Highlights: Telford Tigers 4 Sheffield Steeldogs 6