Simon prepares for rivals to hit back

By a strange quirk of the early-season fixture list, Steelers face the same rivals as last weekend, albeit with the venues reversed.

First up are league newcomers Dundee Stars, who travel to South Yorkshire having been walloped 6-0 on home ice last weekend by Steelers, who will then travel to South Wales tomorrow to face a Cardiff Devils side desperate to make up for last week's 5-1 defeat in Sheffield.

"I think we will need to work even harder this weekend because it will be harder to beat these teams twice," said Simon.

"We need to make sure that there is no slacking off and that we don't go round with any kind of swagger because of how we did last weekend."

Having experienced his first taste of top-flight UK ice hockey, Steelers' player-coach Simon is keen for new signing Rob Globke – a fellow former NHL forward – to get his first glimpse this weekend after arriving in the UK on Thursday.

"He will certainly be a player to watch out for," said Simon. "I'm really looking forward to seeing him out on the ice. He's the first guy that I've brought in myself and I'm excited about the impact he will have on our team."

Simon said he is prepared to give forward Derek Campbell more time to sort out his visa issues with the former Coventry Blaze winger the only player signed in the summer not to arrive from North America.

But Simon was quick to add that a decision would have to be made soon by the Steelers on whether to look elsewhere if Campbell can't resolve his situation.

"I'm doing my best to stay loyal to Derek and hope that he gets over here," added Simon. "But we are approaching the crossroads soon where a decision will have to be made on whether we move on and try to bring in somebody else.

"I do think he'll do a good job for us - but he can't do it from North America and there are no shortage of players to come in if he can't get things sorted."