Steve Thornton last night claimed that he will be too focused on winning to worry about events in Edinburgh this evening.

The Belfast Giants coach, however, did admit that he has spoken to his Capitals counterpart Doug Christiansen asking for a favour.

Coventry Blaze will be crowned Elite League champions if they win in Edinburgh or the Giants fail to beat the Newcastle Vipers at the Odyssey Arena.

Thornton and his men need to win and hope that Blaze lose to set up a winner-takes-all clash in Coventry tomorrow night, when the title would be up for grabs.

“We can only worry about what we can control and we can’t do anything about the game in Edinburgh,” said Thornton.

“Our own game is just as important. We have to make sure we get the two points against Newcastle and we’ve lost to them a couple of times this season.

“We have to be focused on trying to win and the Edinburgh v Coventry game will look after itself.

“I had a chat with Doug Christiansen after we played them on Sunday night and told him that we need a favour from his team. He said he’ll do what he can.”

If the Giants finish second they will face Newcastle again next weekend in the Play-offs, while a league title win would see them go up against the Hull Stingrays for a place in Nottingham at Easter.

“At this stage of the season we are still in the mix for two trophies — and they are the two biggest trophies — which is a positive,” said Thornton.

“I hope that we are playing Hull in the Play-offs.”