THIS is the biggest weekend of the season for the Basingstoke Bison and the Herd have been hit with the news that their leading points scorer, Tomas Karpov, will be out until the play-offs.

It is a bitter blow for the Bison as they try to hunt down second-placed Guildford Flames, whom they face in a crunch clash in Basingstoke on Saturday night.

It gets no easier this weekend for the Herd as on Sunday they have a tough trip to English Premier League champions-elect Telford Tigers.

Stylish Czech forward Karpov broke his wrist in last Wednesday’s heartbreaking defeat at Guildford, which the Flames won with a winner 10 seconds from time.

The Bison will be out for quick revenge against their Surrey rivals, in a game that has a 6.30pm face-off, and a bumper crowd is expected at the Basingstoke Arena.

Basingstoke Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard said: “Losing Tomas (Karpov) is a big loss, but the guys stepped up last weekend against Sheffield and will continue to do so.

“The Guildford game is huge for us, as if we lose then that will be the end of our hopes of taking second spot.”

The good news for Bison fans is that forward Grant Rounding is set to return for the Basingstoke Bison's toughest weekend of the season so far.

The third-placed Herd are up against the two sides above them in the English Premier League table.

On Saturday night, the Guildford Flames (6.30pm) are the visitors and then on Sunday the Herd travel to leaders Telford Tigers for a game that has a start time of 5.45pm.

The Bison’s injury list has grown in recent weeks, with Karpov and Aaron Connolly added to it, so it will be great to see Rounding back on the ice for what will be his first game of 2015.

He picked up a leg injury when Guildford were last in town just before Christmas.

Guildford currently lead the league series 4-1, with two of those wins coming in Basingstoke.

However, the Herd are on an impressive run at the Basingstoke Arena, having won their last eight, and they are not about to surrender their winning streak without a fight.

Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard said: “We are really hopeful that Grant (Rounding) will be back and we still have the bad memory of our last game against Guildford, when we lost in the final seconds, fresh in our minds.

“It is a big game but we are playing well at home at the moment and I see no reason why this will not continue.”

On Sunday night, the Bison travel to Telford to face a side who may have clinched the league crown the night before in Peterborough.

Looking at the Telford game, Sheppard said: “I expect them to give us a tough game, but I think we match up well against them.”

On Sunday night (6.30pm), the Basingstoke Buffalo will look to continue their reign over South Two West when they face a visit from the Wightlink Tigers.

A very physical game is expected against the islanders, who drew with the Buffalo the last time the teams faced each other.