BASINGSTOKE Bison will be gunning for second spot in the English Premier League when Peterborough Phantoms travel to Hampshire on Saturday.

The Herd are currently two points behind the visitors and victory in the game, which has a 6.30pm face-off, would see them reclaim second place in the table.

The Bison have certainly not been spooked by the Phantoms this season, beating them three times.

The first time in Basingstoke was an explosive affair, which saw five players dismissed, while the last success was in Peterborough just four days ago.

The bad news is the Herd have four players out of their line-up for the game due to suspension and international duty.

However, Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard said: “We have a number of guys out, but we have to make sure we get the job done.

“We are not a team that is going to be complacent, even if we have beaten Peterborough before.

“We want two points from Saturday’s game as it is our only league game of the weekend.”

Victory would move the Bison into a good position behind leaders Telford Tigers and boost the Herd’s quest for the coveted league crown.

Sheppard said: “There is still a lot of hockey to play this season, so anything can happen.”

Victory over the Phantoms will mean the Herd take their first league series, having already beaten Peterborough three times this season.

They will, however, be without a few players this weekend as Joe Greener is suspended after going over 10 penalty points for the season, while Cameron Wynn, Matt Selby and Declan Balmer are all away with Great Britain under-20s in the World Championships.

GB have a warm-up game against Helsinki tomorrow night, before they open their tournament in the Estonian capital of Tallinn against the Netherlands on Sunday.

This is followed by games against Lithuania on Monday, Romania on Wednesday, Korea a week tomorrow and Estonia the day after.

On Sunday night, the Herd face National Hockey League side Invicta and the game will include the very popular annual Teddy Bear Toss.

Once again fans will be asked to throw teddy bears or cuddly toys on to the ice when the Herd score their first goal of the game. All of them will then be collected and donated to Naomi House.

Fans are reminded their teddies or toys need to display a CE label and also need to be placed in a protective bag (a carrier bag is fine) so that they can be preserved and not get wet when they hit the ice.

The Bison won the reverse fixture in Kent earlier in the season and once again some Buffalo players will be added to the Herd for the game.

Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard said: “We want four points from this weekend. Even though we are short four guys, I am sure we can do it.”