Blaze last won the play-offs in 2005 while Devils have reached the Final Four weekend in every season of the Elite League, losing three times in the showpiece, including the last two years.

The teams meet at the Skydome on Saturday night in the first leg before the return in Cardiff on Sunday evening.

Thompson said: "We have had good preparation this week and have covered a lot of stuff. Everyone is fully focused on what lies ahead.

"The prize is getting through to the Final Four, which is the swansong of the British ice hockey season. It is where every player and coach wants to be.

"Cardiff stand in our way. They have had great success (getting to the Final Four) because they play play-off hockey.

"We can take some confidence from last weekend but we were 3-1 down in both games against them and we cannot afford to do that again. We have to learn from that."