BASINGSTOKE Bison have been hit by a injury crisis ahead of a triple header over the coming weekend.

First up is a trip to the Swindon Wildcats on Boxing Day (5.45pm), followed by a home derby with the Bracknell Bees on Sunday (5.30pm).

The third game is another road trip this time to the Guildford Flames on Monday (4pm).

British forward Alan Lack and defenceman Alex Symonds are ruled out, while the Herd will wait on the fitness of Grant Rounding and leading goal scorer Tomas Karpov.

Canadian Joe Rand replaced Karpov in last Sunday’s win over Bracknell, but he is in Canada over Christmas.

So head coach Doug Sheppard is on standby to fill the fourth import berth on the team.

The Bison, second in the EPL, start their triple header with a tough trip to fourth palced Swindon. They have won their last three games and, like the Herd, they have been in awesome form on home ice having won their last eight outings at the Link Centre.

Looking ahead to the game, Sheppard said: “They are a very good side especially on home ice, but I felt we played well there last time and deserved more than an overtime loss.

“Against Swindon it is all about making sure we play a solid defensive game and stay out of the penalty box and their powerplay killed us last time.”

On Sunday night, the Bracknell game will also see the annual teddy bear event at Basingstoke.

The Herd will be keen to return to winning ways in their own barn after they lost for the first time in 14 games last time out.

The omens look good as the Bison beat the Bees last weekend at the Hive.

However, Sheppard is taking nothing for granted and said: “I felt Bracknell played well against us and made it tough for us in their own building.”

Completing the Bison’s trio of games is a trip to fifth placed Guildford on Monday, to face a Flames side who have added free-scoring import Janis Ozolins since these sides last met.

Sheppard said: “Guildford are sure to come out fast from the start and we have to make sure we are ready.”