COACH Omar Pacha believes Hull Stingrays' cutting edge will sharpen once the team is at full strength.
Injuries and players exits mean Stingrays are yet to ice a complete 12-import contingent in any match this season.
Pacha's side have consistently created chances and out-shot teams, and yet sit only eighth in the Elite League with just four wins from 15 games.
"There's still work to be done, but I am sure when our forwards generate so many chances – especially when we have three full lines – the goals will definitely come," said Pacha.
"We want that to be sooner rather than later, but sometimes when you get short of bodies you get fatigue and it becomes more difficult to finish off that chance.
"We're not conceding many goals either and the day I'll worry is when we are not generating any chances.
"I think there's a lot less goals in the league than at the beginning of last year, it's not just us, other teams are struggling to find the net.
"Netminders and defences are good, but at the same time it's up to our guys to drive the net and get the dirty goals like Dominic Osman did against Fife."
The Rapid Solicitors Stingrays travel to Fife Flyers on Saturday before returning home to face Braehead Clan on Sunday.
The Flyers lost 3-1 in Hull last Sunday but the Clan have already beaten Stingrays 8-6 and 2-0.
Stingrays are unlikely to be at full-strength as they await the arrival of Will Frederick.
The forward, who replaces Matt Larke – who quit the club a fortnight ago – has completed his biometrics test, but is waiting for his visa to be granted.
"We probably don't expect him to be here this week, which is unfortunate, but we have dealt with this sort of thing all year," said Pacha.
"Hopefully it will be the last weekend where we are short-handed.
"Credit to every player for battling through adversity, with everything happening with injuries and guys going home.
"Playing games with six or seven forwards and four defencemen is not easy, especially when you have a young team, with guys straight out of college, and are asking them to play 30 minutes a night.
"They have adjusted well and I'm happy right now with the work they did in those matches, especially with the situations they were put in.
"Look at Edinburgh, they've lost 11 in a row, and not made the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
"No disrespect to them, but we've been in the same situation and we're still in the Cup, are sitting eighth and are only two games off 500 hockey. It's not the start I wanted but it could have been much worse."
