Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

AFTER the season they have just had, it would be understandable if Leeds Knights didn’t feel like they have anything left to prove. Not so, according to head coach Ryan Aldridge.

Heading into Saturday’s NIHL National play-off semi-final against Telford Tigers, the league champions will rightly be viewed by many as favourites to make Sunday’s final.

There, many in this part of the country hope, will possibly await Sheffield Steeldogs, who are pitted against Raiders IHC in the first semi-final at Coventry’s SkyDome Arena.

Double bid: Ryan Aldridge is hoping to steer league champions Leeds Knights to a play-off title in Coventry. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

An all-Yorkshire final is a mouth-watering prospect between teams where there is little love lost.

But Aldridge knows there is a massive hurdle to overcome before they can even think about what may or may not happen on Sunday.

It would have been easy for the Knights to take their foot off the gas since clinching the regular season crown but, if anything, they have just increased their output.

Aside from a 7-5 defeat at runners-up Milton Keynes Lightning, the Knights have won six of the seven games since that memorable night in Telford on March 19 when they discovered they were to be champions.

Leeds Knights coach Ryan Aldridge issues instructions. (Picture courtesy of John Victor)

In five of those games, they have scored five or more.

Leeds Knights have learned the lessons from previous big-game setbacks as they head to play-off finals weekend as favourites