THE Basingstoke Bison will look to take another step closer to the English Premier League title, when the league leaders face the reigning league champions the Telford Tigers on home ice on Saturday (6.30pm).

The Herd moved eight points clear at the top after a double success last weekend, while their nearest rivals the Peterborough Phantoms who have two games in hand suffered a double loss.

The Herd who have now won their last four games, will be keen to maintain the gap at the top, but they face an inform Tigers team, who have reeled off six straight wins.

So it is set to be a cracking encounter on Saturday night and added extra spice to the game is the fact Telford beat the Bison when the sides last met in Shropshire, but have yet to win in Basingstoke this season.

The Herd are hoping that British forwards Ryan Watt and Alan Lack will be back from injury, but fellow Brit sharp shooter Joe Greener is ruled out, as he serves the second game of two match suspension, after he reached 10 penalty points last weekend.

Looking ahead to the clash, Bison head coach Doug Sheppard said: "We know Telford are a good team and it is going to be a tough game, but we want to maintain our cushion at the top."