Steve Thornton is keeping his players’ feet well and truly on the ground as they chase a first Grand Slam in Belfast Giants’ history.

After two resounding wins over Coventry Blaze during the week to progress to the semi-finals of the British Knockout Cup, Thornton’s men are the only team still in with a chance of taking all four pieces of silverware this season.

The Giants coach, however, is demanding that the team keep their focus and not get carried away, despite hitting five goals past defending Elite League champions Coventry in each leg of the quarter-final.

With the race for the Elite League title hotting up, tomorrow night’s trip to Manchester Phoenix and next Wednesday’s home game with leaders Sheffield give the Giants the chance to shake things up at the top.

“The team is confident at the

minute, there is excitement about a new guy coming in with Jason Rushton due to be here in time for next Wednesday,” said Thornton.

“In this league though you have to be careful, as soon as you win a game and get confident it can bite you.

“We have beaten Sheffield and Coventry twice in the last week, but the important thing is that when you win you enjoy it at the time and then move on.

“We go to Manchester now looking for another two points and anything that we pick up on the road is precious.

“We want to make the Sheffield game a big one and the only way to do that is to keep on winning

our matches.

“The good thing is that everything is in our own hands in terms of the league and we are in the semi-finals of both cups with the Play-offs still to look forward to.”

Nathan Craze was outstanding in the two games with Coventry, with Thornton giving the young Welsh goaltender the Knockout Cup to show how reliable he can be.

Stevie Lyle is likely to come back in tomorrow night, but there is a slight murmur of a selection headache.

“If I have a problem choosing between my two goaltenders then it’s a good one to have,” said Thornton.

“Nathan saved the shots we expect him to save and the team played tighter.

“I think when Stevie is in there are more risks taken because guys think that he will bail them out.”

Paul Sample will be back in action tonight after a slight injury scare during the week, although Andrew Martin is not yet ready for a comeback.

Unsurprisingly Giants top goalscorer Paul Deniset — with 26 goals in 32 games — has been added to the list of names for the Elite League All-Star game next month, joining David Phillips and second highest goal getter Bobby Robins in the line-up.