Deeside Dragons player-coach Steve Fellows is hopeful that an injection of new blood can see his side enjoy a strong finish to their Laidler Conference season.

The Dragons were beaten 7-1 at Nottingham Lions last time out and have slipped to sixth in the league but, following a free weekend, they have the chance to move back into the top four with victory at Hull Jets on Saturday (5.30pm).

Fellows’ men have struggled with a lack of depth this season and have been forced to call upon youngsters from their academy sides in order to  put a team on the ice.

But Fellows is hopeful of completing a deal for an unnamed Slovakian attacking import this week, with the player-coach believing a new addition will provide the perfect tonic to help give the Dragons a boost.

“The formalities just need to be completed but I think Saturday may come to soon for him to be included”, said Fellows.

“He’ll be a big addition for us as he is a fast, attacking skater who will score goals for us and give us a big lift. He’ll also help give us some depth which we have sorely been missing.

“We haven’t played with an import this season and that has been a factor in a few games this season. We’ve lacked a bit of a cutting edge.”

Against Nottingham, Fellows was without a number of key senior players including Marc Lovell, Mike Jones and Mike Roden, but the Dragons player-coach was hopeful of having a bigger roster to choose from this weekend.

“It has been tough for us of late,” he said.

“We’ve been missing some key players and haven’t had that steady stream of talent coming up from the academy that we have been fortunate enough to have in previous years. It has been a case of grabbing players and putting them in the squad when we can, which isn’t ideal.

“Having a new signing will help the situation but I’m also hoping to have a few faces back in contention this weekend.

“Hull are a side who have an Elite League first team, so they can call on some quality players.

“It will be a really tough game but we’ve had some good training sessions and we’ll be ready for it.”