Finland: Seinäjoki Crocodiles eye payback, playoff position in Kuopio Steelers rematch

The Seinäjoki Crocodiles (5-2) host the Kuopio Steelers (6-2) Saturday in a Finnish Maple League matchup with major playoff implications, just one week after the Steelers escaped with a 35-33 victory in Kuopio.

With both teams fighting for position near the top of the standings and home-field advantage in the playoffs, the quick rematch gives the Crocodiles an immediate opportunity to answer last week’s narrow loss.

Crocodiles get reinforcements

Seinäjoki heads into the rematch with several players returning to the lineup.

Offensive linemen Tuomas Hvitfelt and Isak Berg are expected back, giving quarterback CF Fowler additional protection against the Kuopio defense.

Head coach Jaime Hill also returns to the sideline after serving a three-game suspension. The Crocodiles had won four straight before Hill’s suspension and went 1-2 with Leon La Deaux filling in.

Linebacker Aki Seppälä and Joel Särkelä, who joined Seinäjoki for the remainder of the season, are also expected to dress as they work toward playoff eligibility.

Steelers lose Rubinstein

The Steelers picked up an important victory last week, but it came at a price.

Daniel Rubinstein suffered an upper-limb injury against the Crocodiles and will not play Saturday, taking a weapon out of the Kuopio offense.

That could put even more emphasis on running back Joshua Mack. The American gives the Steelers a major threat on the ground and will test a strong Seinäjoki defensive front.

Quarterbacks almost dead even

There is virtually nothing separating the teams’ quarterbacks statistically through the air.

Slade Jarman has thrown for 1,733 yards through seven games, exactly one yard more than Fowler. That matchup could become even more important if Seinäjoki loads up to slow Mack and forces Kuopio to attack through the air.

The Crocodiles, meanwhile, may lean more heavily on Fowler and the passing game with their offensive line getting healthier.

Playoff positioning on the line

There was only a two-point difference between these teams last week, and there is little reason to expect much separation this time.

The Steelers need another victory to maintain their position near the top of the standings, while the Crocodiles can answer last week’s loss and keep themselves firmly in the race for home-field advantage.

With the regular season running down, Saturday’s rematch in Seinäjoki could prove important when the final playoff positions are settled.