SWINDON Wildcats coach Aaron Nell says it is important his troops set the tone right from the off after discovering their fixture fate for the new season.

The Cats will start the 2018-19 season with a weekend double-header against Hull Pirates in the Autumn Cup in mid-September.

Swindon welcome the Pirates to the Link Centre for their first competitive fixture of the campaign on Saturday, September 15, before making the reverse trip to Humberside 24 hours later.

League matches in NIHL South One do not begin until the following month, with Nell’s side facing home and away matches against Invicta Dynamos, starting at the Link Centre on Saturday, October 6.

Having picked up two pieces of silverware last season in the Autumn Trophy and NIHL Cup, player-coach Nell believes it is vital his side hit their straps early on if they are to enjoy another successful campaign.

“It is getting very close now. It is four weeks until the team meet up and then five weeks until the first game,” said Nell.

“There have been many changes for us this summer, so we want to come out flying from the get-go and try to have a strong start to the season.

“Hull will be a tough team to play, they have got a good side.

“They are very similar to last season, but they have added an import goalie. That was probably the weak spot of their team last season, so they are going to be a tough team and a great test for us first up.”

The Cats will play four pre-season fixtures prior to the start of the competitive action, with home and away matches against Bracknell Bees and Streatham.

Swindon host the Bees on Saturday, September 1 before heading to Bracknell the next day.

A double-header against Streatham – starting at the Link Centre – then takes place the following weekend.

After their first competitive fixtures against Hull, the Cats complete their Autumn Cup group programme with double-headers against Sheffield Steeldogs and Telford Tigers on the final two weekends in September.

Swindon will play four fixtures over the festive period, with home matches against Bracknell and Peterborough Phantoms on Saturdays, December 22 and 29 respectively.

Between those, the Cats travel to the Bees on Sunday, December 23 and Basingstoke Bison on Friday, December 28.

There is no Boxing Day or New Year’s Day fixture this season, with Swindon beginning 2019 with a home game against Milton Keynes Thunder on Saturday, January 5.

The Cats’ final game of the league season is a trip to the Thunder on Sunday, March 17.

The league format will be a 42-game schedule, with six matches against each team and the first home and away game of each will double up as a South Cup fixture.

Sadly, Cardiff Fire have had to pull out at short notice, so the league has now reverted to three home and three away games per team.

Swindon continued to put building blocks in place for the new season by adding netminders Tyler Perre and Michael Crisp to their senior roster this week, and coach Nell says there remains scope for further additions.

He said: “We are always open for more signings. We are always looking and hopefully we can add one more face.”