THE waiting is nearly over the Basingstoke Bison fans for the most anticipated game of the season, when the fixtures were released in the summer.

Saturday night (6.30pm) will see the Herd face a visit from their local rivals the Bracknell Bees.

This fixture has added significant this campaign, after head coach Doug Sheppard and seven of last season’s treble winning Bison team buzzed off to the Hive for this season.

This is sure to add extra spice to what is always a hard fought local derby battle, between these rivals of 30 years.

When the sides met earlier in the season Berkshire, the Bees won 2-0 with their second goal being an empty netter.

Victory for the Bison on Saturday night in regulation time will clinch them third spot in the South Cup group and leave Bracknell in fourth spot.

Tickets are selling fast for the clash and looks set to be a bumper crowd at the Basingstoke Arena.

Bison head coach Ashley Tait knows the importance of winning games against your local rivals and said: “We saw the amount of fans who travelled to Bracknell earlier in the season, half of theme must have been from Basingstoke, so I am sure it will be a great atmosphere.

“We lost in Bracknell 2-0, but every player will tell you we did not play well on that night, so it would be nice to put this right.”

The Herd are expected to be at full strength for the clash, as they look to sting the Bees.

On Sunday night (6.45pm) the Bison are on their travels to face the Milton Keynes Thunder.

Tait said: “MK always make it difficult for you in their own rink, so we have make sure we prepare properly for the game.”