DMITRI Rodin believes Hull Stingrays face their biggest game of the season so far against Edinburgh Capitals.
The Estonian-born defenceman's side are bottom of the Elite League.
They trail tonight's second-bottom visitors by three points, with three games in hand.
"It's going to be the biggest game of our season so far," said Rodin.
"We have to beat them at home if we are going to try and catch them in the league.
"To do that we must play good defence and when we get our chances we have to score goals."
Tonight's clash is the final meeting of the season between the two teams.
So far the Rapid Solicitors Stingrays have wrapped up three regulation-time wins, and the Capitals four victories, two of which were shoot-outs.
Stingrays look set to be without Kurtis Dulle, who has been given a one-match ban after picking up his second five plus game checking to the head penalty of the season in Fife on Sunday. However, Stingrays have sent Elite League disciplinary chief Simon Kirkham DVD footage of the incident.
They believe it proves their captain is innocent.
If they succeed in convincing Kirkham, Dulle will be free to play.
Meanwhile, Stingrays have finally confirmed the departure of forward Janis Ozolins.
The Latvian had been the subject of increasing speculation about his future in recent days, following a string of unconvincing performances.
Ozolins made a flying start to the season but has not scored in 12 games, picking up just two assists in the process. He registered 33 points (14 goals and 19 assists) from 39 games.
It is believed he was told late last week that his job was under threat, but apparently told the club he wanted to stay and prove the doubters wrong, rather than make a swift return to the English Premier League, where he was such a stand-out star for Sheffield Steeldogs last season.
However, it seems Stingrays' patience finally ran out when Ozolins failed to shine again in the club's 5-1 defeat on Sunday in Fife, despite playing on the third line.
It takes Stingrays' import contingent back down to 11 out-ice skaters, the maximum number permitted in any one game.
Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, though, is still searching for another import forward ahead of next month's signing deadline.
If he succeeds, it is likely to signal the departure of another of his current overseas contingent.
