AN early season top-of-the-table clash is what Basingstoke Bison face when Telford Tigers are the visitors on Saturday (face-off 6.30pm).

Both sides have made 100 per cent starts to the season and the Herd will be keen to put a marker down against a side tipped by many to win the English Premier League crown.

The Tigers have added a lot of Elite League stars to their line-up, including former Bison defenceman Sam Zajac, and of course last season they signed the Herd’s leading British goal scorer Joe Miller.

Basingstoke player/coach Doug Sheppard said: “This is going to be our toughest test yet, but I am happy with the way we are playing and being our only game of the weekend, it is important we get the win.”

The Herd go into the game on the back of another great weekend, which saw league wins at Peterborough Phantoms and at home to Manchester Phoenix.