LEE ESDERS was put through the wringer by his Braehead Clan team-mates on Sunday.

The injured ace is hopeful it will be worth the pain if the Glasgow side manage to clinch their first ever Elite League title this weekend.

It has been a frustrating few weeks in general for the man from Beverley in Yorkshire who has been forced to watch on from the sidelines as Clan's championship push reaches its climax.

However, there was little that could have prepared the 26-year-old for what he would endure at the Murrayfield Ice Arena last weekend as the whole title race took a dramatic twist.

While league leaders Sheffield Steelers were losing at Cardiff Devils, Braehead struggled to enforce themselves over the Edinburgh Capitals and in the end went down 2-1 to blow the chance of going top of the table.

Speaking exclusively to SportTimes, Esders explained: "The guys on the ice weren't aware but with me being on the sidelines I was always checking the Elite League website trying to keep up to date.

"When I was reading the score from down in Cardiff there was a buzz but the guys didn't know what had happened until they came off.

"On the way back all the boys were down and disappointed with how it went.

"You can't dwell on it though. We must move on this weekend, get two victories and go on from there."

Knowing he will be confined to the stands again this weekend for the last two league games of the season, Esders will be reduced to another nervous supporter in the stands.

A packed house at the Braehead Arena on Saturday will watch Clan host the Hull Stingrays before making the journey east to Kirckaldy in what could be a dramatic derby dust-up with the Fife Flyers.

Two wins from two games and a loss each for Sheffield and Cardiff Devils will see Braehead crowned champions, and Esders says defiant Clan are keeping the faith.

He said: "We've been putting things into place for the weekend and know exactly what we need to do.

"On Saturday it's about doing what we always do. If you try that little bit harder that's when you make mistakes.

"I think the boys will come out flying. That will settle the nerves."

Esders added: "Even after Sunday's defeat the spirit in the camp is pretty high.

"We set out at the start of the season to be up there challenging for trophies. Everyone has bought into that and the results show that.

"If we get two more wins hopefully it will be rewarded."