WITH just a fortnight to go to the Findus Challenge Cup finals weekend, the countdown starts here.

The Basingstoke Bison face Coventry Blaze in the first semi-final, but today we look at the other semi-final between Fife Flyers and Peterborough Pirates.

With a number of departures since qualifying for the finals, Peterborough are very much the underdogs for this game.

Pirates' Canadian forward Jesse Hammill, on the sidelines with a broken foot, is looking to return for the semi.

Peterborough at present have only three imports in their line-up but are hopeful of having a couple of new imports for the weekend.

Hammill said: We have got to the semi-final, so anything can happen, but we will have to play with heart and hope the bounces go our way."

He added: "I think when you look at our line-up, Pasi (Raitanen) will have to have a good game for us in the nets and the Cotton Brothers and Doug McEwen will have to score the goals."

Fife Flyers player/coach Mark Morrison is fully aware that his side, currently third in the league, will start as hot favourites. He said: "We have to come out fired up and ready to play from the start. I have a lot of guys who have tasted success with this club before and will want to do it again."

Along with top Canadian netminder Shawn Silver, the Flyers have an awesome offensive unit

Morrison added: "Karry Biette is probably our best player at the moment, but Russell Monteith and Todd Dutiaume are others to look out for, while local player Steven King is starting to hit form."