Video – Steven Moore happy to stay versatile for Leeds Chiefs

But his ‘reward’ for proving so prolific in front of goal – albeit in a 6-5 overtime defeat to Swindon Wildcats – was to find himself thrown into defence by player-coach Sam Zajac.

Not that the 26-year-old Scottish-born winger minds one bit, happy as he is to do whatever is required in order to enhance the Chiefs’ hopes of gate-crashing the playoffs.

His switch in role was made necessary given the injury sustained by defenceman Steve Duncombe, with a return date for the veteran blue-liner not yet known.

That means Moore could be asked to fill in on the back-end for a lengthy period of time, a situation he is happy to take in his stride.

“I have played in spells on D, not a lot and not in a long time – the odd shift here and there if we’ve run into penalty trouble or were running short on numbers or had injury problems,” said Moore, who along with fellow Scot Joe Coulter and Zajac is one of just three ever-presents for the Chiefs this season.

“I was terrified back there to start with, but it was good to get the two practises in last week before the Telford game, I felt a lot more comfortable than I did that first week against Sheffield.

“But it’s a new challenge for me and I’m really enjoying it. It’s not the same old, same old playing on the wing but, hopefully, I’ll keep listening to Sam and the rest of the guys because they’ve been really helpful.

“Gossy (goalie Sam Gospel) helps me out a lot too, he knows the game pretty well and he’s always giving me tips and he’s played at a higher level.

“I’m just learning as I go along – but I am enjoying the challenge. Sam and I had a good laugh about the fact it came after I scored that hat-trick, but it is what it is.

“We’ve got 10 good forwards at the moment and we were rolling three lines against Telford.

“I could probably play up there still and we could have 10 forwards and mix it up a bit, but that would leave us short at the back end, so I’m more than happy to do what the team needs me to do.”

Winning on home ice at the second attempt last Saturday with a 3-2 overtime win over league leaders Telford Tigers, saw the Chiefs remain in the hunt to make the post-season, although a Sunday night win for Romford-based Raiders –the team currently occupying the last remaining playoff spot –means Chiefs now have a 12-point gap to bridge with just 15 games remaining.

It’s a tall order, placing greater emphasis on this weekend which sees them play three games in as many nights, starting with tomorrow’s visit from an in-form Hull Pirates – a team they have yet to get the better of in five previous meetings.

They then travel to Milton Keynes Lightning on Saturday before hosting the same team at Elland Road 24 hours later.

“We want to keep the momentum going through this week and into Friday night’s game,” added Moore. “Three in three is tough for any team, no matter what level it is, but we’ll just take it a night at a time.

“We’re keen to pick up points against Hull as we’ve not beaten them this season.”