Robert Dowd believes back-to-back wins over arch rivals Nottingham Panthers have boosted Sheffield Steelers ahead of their Scottish double-header this weekend.

The men from the House of Steel visit Fife Flyers (coach Todd Dutiaume pictured) on Saturday (7.15pm) and then Dundee Stars on Sunday (17.00), both games in the Elite League.

Billingham-born Dowd, an assistant captain for Great Britain in the World Championship, admitted that the Scottish trip is one of the toughest in their season.

Sheffield look set to bring a huge travelling support and Dowd said: “Both Fife and Dundee are tough barns to go to. Gone are the days that you would head to Scotland for a three-in-three (days) and think there is six points.”

Glasgow Clan playcaller Zack Fitzgerald bids to extend the club’s impressive recent record of six straight wins in back-to-back jousts against highly-rated Belfast Giants at Braehead this weekend.

The club’s square-up in the Challenge Cup tonight (SAT, 19.00) and again tomorrow (SUN, 16.30) in the Elite League.

Clan and Giants both have four points and identical records from five games in the Challenge Cup.

However, the Glasgow club top the ten-strong Elite League with ten points, two points clear of Cardiff Devils and four ahead of Fife and Sheffield.

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