The Okotoks Oilers open up their weekend set of games on the road when they battle the Olds Grizzlys for the fifth time this season.

Heading into Friday's tilt the Oilers lead the season series with the Grizzlys 3-1 and pending on how the season goes in the last 11 games the Oilers could see Olds in the 1st Round of the Gas Drive Cup Playoffs.

Oilers Head Coach James Poole says a strong start on the road would go a long way in the sometimes hostile confines of the Olds Sportsplex.

"You want to send a message to Olds," he says. "They're a team that's struggling right now and hopefully we can come out and play a complete game that can really send a message that they're not going to want to see us come playoff time."

The Grizzlys currently hold the 7th spot in the AJHL's South Division with a game in hand and one point back of the Calgary Canucks for 6th place but have lost nine of their past 11 games.

The Oilers are 12-12-1 on the road this season and will look to avenge their road loss on November 7.

Poole says there's plenty of room to improve on since the Oilers' last encounter with the Grizzlys.

"For us it's just making sure we're playing a 60 minute game and no matter whether it's at home or on the road our game needs to improve. There's certain areas we need to get better at and a lot of that has to do with our offensively challenges that we have right now and that's going to be the focus of our team is being making sure we're a tougher team to play against and we go to those hard to play areas in order to score some goals."

The Oilers are clear by nine points over 4th placed Drumheller heading into their final 11 games of the season but Poole knows his team can be better and it starts this weekend.

"There's a lot of areas in our game that we want to approve on as team in the last month towards playoffs and that will be the focus this week and trying to tighten some areas up and playing a real road game in Olds and hopefully send a message."

The Oilers will return home Saturday night when they welcome the defending league champion Spruce Grove Saints to town.

It's Pack The Rink Night and puck drop goes at 7 p.m.

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