Dundee Comets head coach Richard Hartmann believes it’s crucial for his team to get four points this weekend.

North Ayrshire Wild are providing the opposition in the only SNL game of the weekend – with the others all involved in Scottish Cup action – and Hartmann is going all out to make sure his team get the win.

Just a couple of weeks after thrashing Wild 12-0 in a cup tie, the Comets boss insists he’s not being complacent in his preparations for the latest meeting between the clubs.

“It was a massive loss to Aberdeen last week and at being 3-2 up after two periods, we seemed to run out of gas in the third,” he said.

“It makes this Sunday’s game with North Ayrshire Wild a crucial one for us to win.  While we beat them comfortably a couple of weeks ago, we’re not taking this one lightly.

“The four-point game is always tough for us and you always need to be prepared or the other team can punish you.

“We need to be aware and play hard from the start to make sure we get the points and although we’re a little short just now, we have to be ready for it.”

A big result, like the one they got against the Ayrshire side, would put them second place, just ahead of local rivals Dundee Tigers on goal difference.

For Wild, after suffering double digit defeats in their last two games, will look to close the gap on Kilmarnock Thunder just above them in the table.

Head coach Domenico De Simone welcomed Jamie Miller to the club, with the returning signing given Wild an option in their roster.

This weekend also sees the remaining Scottish Cup quarter finals played as Comets wait to see who will join them in the last four.

On Saturday, Aberdeen Lynx will look to return to winning ways when they host Thunder in their cup tie, having won two of their last three games at the Linx Arena.

For Kilmarnock, after two straight wins over SNL champions Kirkcaldy Kestrels, they were brought back to earth with a sobering 8-2 loss at Dundee Tigers.

Sunday sees the Tigers head to Braehead Arena to face Paisley Pirates in their tie and with the memory of a 4-3 overtime win there five weeks ago.

Ian Turley’s men are out to bounce back after they were thumped 6-1 at home to Kirkcaldy Kestrels, a defeat he branded “shocking” and “unacceptable.”

Kestrels will still be enjoying the glow of victory again after four straight losses as they host Edinburgh Capitals, who are playing their first game in three weeks.

Capitals’ return to Murrayfield is a matter of just over a week away, but will want to make amends for the 3-1 league loss they suffered on the other side of the Forth earlier in the season.

FIXTURES

Saturday

Scottish Cup

Aberdeen Lynx v Kilmarnock Thunder (7.15pm)

Sunday

SNL

Dundee Comets v North Ayrshire Wild (6pm)

Scottish Cup

Paisley Pirates v Dundee Tigers (5pm)
Kirkcaldy Kestrels v Edinburgh Capitals (Scottish Cup)