One of the hardest men in the Elite League, Skiehar has more strings to his bow than simply being a fighter.

Last season the 28-year-old recorded 11 goals in 50 games and quite a few of them were significant as the Giants lifted the league title.

Now the team is determined that they won't finish this season without something tangible to show for it.

Basingstoke Bison stand between the Giants and a place in Nottingham at Easter for the Play-off finals.

The team's meet tomorrow night at the Odyssey and then on Sunday in Basingstoke and fresh from a battle with his old adversary Brett Clouthier of Manchester Pheonix last weekend, Skiehar is ready to drop the gloves if he has to.

"In the Play-offs I think everyone wants to play and teams want to keep all their guys on the ice for as much of the game as possible," said Skiehar.

" If the need arises and I have to fight someone then I am prepared to do it. That is part of my job on the team.

"If there are guys taking liberties with my team mates or having cheap shots then I will stick up for them. It's what I have to do.

"I don't think there will be too much of that going on though as there is a big emphasis on winning at this time of the year."

And winning is all that matters to the Giants, who will have a large support if they do make it to Nottingham. All too often though the Giants fans have been to the Play-off finals weekend without a team to support.

The team's record in the end-of-season battles doesn't make good reading. It took them until their third season in existence to make the final four weekend and under the players made sure that Dave Whistle's spell in charge ended in style by winningthe last trophy of the old Superleague era.

Last year was the first time they had been back, but there was heartbreak with a semi-final defeat at the hands of the Newcastle Vipers.

"We've been on a good run and everyone has been playing well," said Skiehar.

"In the end we came up a little short in the league and didn't do enough to win it.

" Now we start from scratch again and everyone on the team wants to win the Play-off Championship."