Thu 22 Sep 2022 - 07:17AM

SUMMERS KNOWS IMPORTANCE OF PANTHERS AGAINST STEELERS

The Nottingham Panthers defenceman Kelly Summers says he's well aware of the importance of matches against arch rivals Sheffield Steelers.

The two sides go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon at the Motorpoint Arena in the Premier Sports Challenge Cup (4pm).

Panthers and Steelers have met twice already in pre-season, so Summers knows how much it means to supporters.

Talking with Panthers Radio, in association with Xynomics, Summers said: "It's a pretty known thing since we got here.

"We have been taught not to like them and I have already taken a little heat in the dressing room for having orange hair!

"We are all looking forward to facing them this weekend and they were a good test for us earlier in the season.

"I thought we played well against them and we need to get back to how we were looking at the start of pre-season."

Panthers go into the game on the back of defeats by Manchester and Coventry - and Summers admits the players have a point to prove.

"We have been in a little dry spell here but we have a couple of extra days to work on things," he said.

"Like the coach said to us, we need to head into the weekend like it's a playoff series and we have one game left.

"We will put a lot of focus on them and our aim is to hit the game running on Sunday."

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