It's Championship Weekend in the ELF! The Vienna Vikings want to win their second title in their second ELF final. Rhein Fire are even going for their second title in a row. It's going to be exciting at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen (Kickoff: Sunday, 15.30 CET).

The Championship Game is not like any other game. Vikings head coach Chris Calaycay nevertheless tries to treat it like one: "You don't sit there and say, 'oh it's a different game, we have to step up'. Every week we try to improve. Every week we go into our game plan, get our players in and install our stuff. It's more a focus on execution and making sure that we do our jobs. That's why you play sports. Whether it's the biggest stage in front of 50,000 people or a week 2 regular season game", the coach told a media round on Thursday.

However, he expects one difference: "Having so many fans there and all the noise will make it at least a bit different." He tries to prepare his players for the game and the atmosphere as well as possible.

"It's just another game"

Quarterback Ben Holmes also tries to remain cool: “All that stuff goes out of the window, when you enter the field. Yes, it's a bigger game and atmosphere. You know you will have your nerves here and there, but at the end of the day, you just gonna play football. It's just another game."

Vikings teammate Exavier Edwards sees it similarly: "For me, it's still just playing football. If we just play Vikings disciplinary football, we will be fine." And he knows what it means to play in a championship game. The cornerback and kick returner was already on the pitch when the Vikings won the trophy in 2022. Back then, he delivered a great game in the kick return with 125 yards.

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Toonga is back against the Vikings

The Vikings also faced running back Glen Toonga in the final 2022. Back then, the British player still wore the jersey of the Hamburg Sea Devils. But even then, he was coming off a phenomenal season. Toonga is a big factor in the Rhein Fire offense too.

Defensive player Edwards wants to go into the game with confidence: "He's a good player, I respect that and what they get going on. We gonna embrace the challenge, it's gonna be fun.”

In the 2022 Championship Game, the Vikings held Toonga to -5 yards in the first half. Coach Calayclay adds: "Ideally, we like to go back to that same mentality. Obviously, it's not the same team. Jadrian Clark is quarterback now, the offense is completely different. But our defense doesn't go out and say, 'hey there's one player to make or break the game'. Toonga had an amazing season, but we too, and that's the challenge."

The Vikings recognize the importance of the game, but don't want to overhype it. Either way, the fans can expect a great game with good matchups.

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