Cardiff Devils face two vastly different home challenges in four days, starting against Scottish club Braehead Clan tonight (Saturday).
Player-coach Andrew Lord and his team then turn from the bruising cut and thrust of Elite League hockey to high speed European competition.
Swedish club Vaxjo Lakers visit Ice Arena Wales on Tuesday (both matches face-off at 7pm).
Paul Crowder will miss the clash with Braehead because of suspension, but is eligible to play against Vaxjo when Devils will have a full complement of import players.
Devils are coming off a 4-0 away win against Dundee Stars in their last League match, while they won 4-3 against Swiss team HC Davos in their last Champions League match.
Lakers are unbeaten after four CHL matches and stand top of group E. Devils entertain Lakers at Ice Arena Wales next Tuesday before going to Sweden for the return on Wednesday, October 11.
Lord admits: “To say the CHL tournament has been a challenge of my skills as a coach is an understatement.
“It’s been everything I’ve wanted and then some.”
These teams play a lot differently compared to the style in our league, plus it’s called differently (by officials) too, which is an adjustment.
“The speed of the game is incredible from the teams we’ve faced, but it’s a huge learning curve that’s been a lot of fun.
“It’s also a huge testament to the league with our result and what Nottingham have done so far. It just shows how far this league has come in the last couple of years.
“With that I hope the message is being sent out about the Elite League that it’s a legitimate league that’s getting better every year.”
Panthers are top of their group having won three of their four group fixtures, beating Czech team Mountfield 4-3 and 4-2 plus SC Bern 3-2.
They were beaten 5-2 by Bern in Switzerland, while they still have home and away fixtures against Finnish club TPS Turku to play. The first of those is next Tuesday in Nottingham.
That clash wait Turku is arguably the biggest club game of the modern era for Panthers as they aim to become the first UK team ever to reach the knockout stages of Europe’s top club event.
One win against Turku will take Panthers through.
Panthers general manager Gary Moran says: “We’ve earned our place at the top of the group fair and square. The team turned in brilliant road performances and repeated those efforts at home.
“Panthers have three wins in the CHL so far. That’s THREE wins, no flukes, no dodgy refereeing calls, no poor goalie performances at the other end, just plain good old hard work, effort and skills have put the team into a fantastic place in the competition.
“If we don’t go through, so what? What a performance for the club, the city and the league already. But the Panthers keep making history, first British team to win the Continental Cup, first to win a CHL game, first to win on the road in the CHL, first to win home-and-away, and first to win three out of four so far!”
Ticket information for all Devils’ home matches is available online via the Cardiff Devils official website or by phoning 0800 0842 666. Tickets can also be purchased in person from the main reception at Ice Arena Wales.