The Northstars sit in second place on 47 points and need another point from four remaining matches to seal a place in the finals, which are being held on their home ice, starting August 31.

"Being in second place, I just want the boys to focus on playing good hockey," Kennedy said. "Once we solidify a spot in the play-offs, it is not about wins or losses in the next few games, it's more about playing the right way. The team that has those good habits will be the one who pulls it out in the end."

The Ice Dogs are sixth, 12 points behind fourth placed Perth, with five games (15 points) to play.

"They will be playing desperate hockey," Kennedy said. "They beat us the last time we played and we as a team have a lot to prove. I expect us to come out and answer them. It is up to us to set the tone of the game from the get-go and keep going from there."

After the Ice Dogs, the Northstars are home to runaway leaders Canberra, before a weekend road trip to Melbourne Mustangs (sixth) and cellar dwellers Adelaide Adrenaline.

The Northstars ended a five-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over Perth in the second game of a double- header last weekend. Three of their goals came in power plays.

"When you are not scoring from the power plays you are trying to force plays," Kennedy said. "That is what we have been doing. We got back to the basics - a couple of basic movements, basic passes, not trying to do too much and taking shots when they were open. When we were able to do that, we found success."