MANCHESTER Phoenix are racing against the clock to have their new ice rink ready in time for Saturday night's game against Edinburgh Capitals.

Owner Neil Morris and builder Steve Rattle are convinced they will have the Altrincham Ice Dome in shape to stage its first game, but yesterday afternoon it looked like they still had a massive job on their hands.

Nearly all of the reduced capacity 1,200 seats have been sold while tickets for Sunday's fixture against Newcastle Vipers are selling quickly.

But there is still a mountain of work to be completed before the match can go ahead.

"We are doing everything in our power to get the game on," said Rattle, managing director of Ice Associates.

"We believe it is achievable.

"There will definitely be ice hockey played here this weekend."

But whether that is Saturday on Sunday is still in the balance.

Progress

Before then the cladding on the front and back of the building needs completing, while the seats, toilets and changing rooms are still a work in progress.

Safe access to the building and fire safety facilities also need to be completed.

The good news is that the ice plant is fully operational and the bed of sand is currently freezing before layers of water are sprayed on to make the ice surface.

"We have known all week that it will be tight to make it for Saturday night, but it is achievable," said Morris.

"There is a lot to do but we are getting there.

"Things can go wrong and if they do we will have to put the game back but we have been doing that all season.

"So at this moment in time we are just doing everything we can to get this game on."

A key moment will come when the fire safety and licensing authorities come to look over the building but Morris believes they have covered all bases.

"Both myself and Steve are experienced in events management and we intend to comply with all safety matters," said Morris.

The rink will not be fully completed for weeks but Rattle says that it could be open for public skating as early as Monday week.

The rink should have opened in September, but problems with the foundations meant it was put back to late November.

It soon became clear that the date would not be met and January 28 was announced as the new opening date but once again the contractors failed to meet the deadline.