THE Basingstoke Bison will be keen to keep hold of top spot in the English Premier League as they lock horns with the Bracknell Bees on Saturday.

A big crowd is expected for the last league showdown of the season between these arch rivals.

The Bees stung the Herd 5-1 the last time the sides met earlier this month at the Hive.

However, in Hampshire, the Bison have dominated games over their Berkshire rivals as on both occasions the Bees have lost in Basingstoke.

In the first encounter on the opening day of the season the Bison won 4-1 thanks to Greg Chambers (2) Joe Rand and Alex Symonds. Then, on their last visit back in November, the Bees lost 5-2 as Greg Chambers grabbed a hat-trick and former Bees favourite Jaroslav Cesky netted a brace.

Last weekend, Bracknell produced one of their best results of the season, winning 2-0 at title chasing Manchester. So they will arrive full of confidence and hoping to take another top EPL scalp, but the Herd enjoyed a great double header success against Peterborough last weekend.

Bison boss Doug Sheppard is ready for another derby clash and said: “Their goalie (Carl Ambler) played well against us last time and got a shut-out at the weekend, so we have to make sure we get traffic in front of him as, if he can see it, he will save it.”

On Sunday night (face-off 5.30pm) the Bison make their second trip to Telford in the space of four days.