Todd Dutiaume hopes the experience of reaching the Elite League play-of semi-final two years ago will stand his men in good stead this weekend.
The majority of Flyers’ British-born players were part of the side who in 2014 lost to Belfast Giants by a single goal, despite battering the Irish side during the last period.
On this occasion the Fife club square-up to Nottingham Panthers on their home ice, with the Midlands club having knocked Giants out after a 3-1 second-leg win on Monday night to book a last four spot 7-4 on aggregate.
The tie could allow an old score to be rectified as coach Dutiaume recalled that Panthers knocked Flyers out of the competition at the quarter-final stage several years ago.
It is, however, a daunting match-up for the Kirkcaldy club as Panthers have beaten Fife 5-2 and 3-2 after penalty shots in Nottingham so far this term.
Dutiaume rates that achievement alongside the club’s ‘grand slam’ year of 1977 and the late-season winning streak of several seasons ago.
The coach said: “Every game during that run was do-or-die. Now, we are in that type of situation again.
“If we win two hockey games then we are Elite League champions and that means we have to focus on 120 minutes this weekend.
“Most of the GB players were in our team the last time and that was a great learning experience for them.
“They soaked it all in and it should be easier this time but Danny Stewart has been through this also and so has Kyle Haines.
“Most of the imported players have also played in play-offs but our job is to ramp-up our game as this is play-off hockey at the top level.”
All the games will be seen by a packed crowd as the National Ice Centre is now a complete sell out for both Saturday and Sunday.
Elite League director Todd Kelman said: “It is something which makes British ice hockey stand out from other European leagues and we are really proud that we are going to have another packed house and great atmosphere.
“Attendances have increased across the Elite League as the season has gone on and this is another sign that the sport is continuing to grow year-on-year.”
The first semi-final is between Cardiff Devils, the long-time leaders of the Elite League who were eventually edged by Sheffield Steelers, and defending champions Coventry Blaze, who finished in the eighth and final play-off place but who shocked the newly-crowned champions in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Milton Keynes Lightning have confirmed they will join the Elite League from the 2017-18 season.
The team currently plays in the English Premier League, where they have advanced to the play-off finals weekend in Coventry.
Elite League chairman Tony Smith added: “We are very pleased that we are expanding the league.
“This is something that we all feel strongly about and hopefully this isn’t the end of the expansion.”