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MOBILX VIPERS head into this weekend's play-off quarter final series against Belfast Giants with hopes riding on a positive outcome.

Vipers travel to the Province today before returning home to the Metro Radio Arena tomorrow (face-off 5.30pm) for what could be a winner takes all game.

And not only will a series win mean a return to Nottingham for the champions of 2006, it would also see the career of a Vipers stalwart end on a high.

North-East favourite Shaun Johnson is retiring at the end of this season and this weekend could prove to be the last roll of the dice for the former Durham Wasps ace.

"I'm trying not to think about it," Johnson admitted. "It could happen but to be honest, I'm not thinking like that, as I'll be severely disappointed if we don't come out of the Belfast games with a win.

"We've been training hard and you can see in practice that the guys are taking it to the next level.'' He added: "The last few weeks have been hard on us, as we've been pretty much guaranteed fifth place in the league, so we've had essentially nothing to play for. But with the play-offs coming into view, it's been like an injection for us in terms of speed and effort and everyone just wants to get on with the job now."

After completing a clean sweep of road wins against champions Coventry Blaze last Sunday, with a 4-2 victory at the Skydome, confidence is high.

"We said we needed a good weekend ahead of the play-offs." said Johnson. "And last weekend we got just that, so the confidence is there."

Head coach Rob Wilson has adapted his systems many times during the season but in the winner takes all series, is he looking to do anything new?

"We've been working on a few things in training and the lads are all used to the systems,'' he said.

"The play-offs are a totally different game though and we'll be taking one game at a time. In the latter half of the season, we've maybe struggled a little bit but we all think we can step it up a gear, just like we did in 2006 when we won it. Anything can happen in the play-offs, so I hope it all comes together for us."

And coming back to his potential last weekend, Johnson added "It's going to be my last home game on Sunday night, so I'd just like to thank all the fans for their terrific support during my time with Newcastle and throughout the years. I've enjoyed my time immensely at the Arena and everyone's been fantastic with me.

"So I hope everyone will be in the rink on Sunday night and we can finish the season with a trip to Nottingham."

8:51am Saturday 29th March 2008

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