SWINDON co-promoter Gary Patchett believes the Robins’ next three meetings could shape the rest of their season.

Alun Rossiter’s men travel to Monmore Green tonight to face Wolverhampton Wolves, before home and away meetings against reigning Elite League champions Poole Pirates on Wednesday and Thursday night.

The Robins started the season in blistering form, winning their first four meetings, but lost their next two after returning to action following a run of eight successive postponement.

Subsequent victories over Peterborough and a struggling Belle Vue side have put them back on the winning path, but Patchett believes his side need to consistently pick up points away from home if they are to live up to their tag as one of the pre-season title contenders.

“The league is starting to take a little bit of shape now, we’ve had a little bit of luck meeting Belle Vue when we did because they will be stronger now,” he said.

“If it was a half-term report then you’d say we’re doing fine at the moment.

“At the back end of the week we’ll have a much better idea of where we are, because we’ve got a difficult road trip to Wolves and then Poole away and at home.

“If we came out of those meetings with seven points then it would be fantastic.

“I’d take a point down at Poole right now but we’ll certainly be looking to turn them over at home.

“Wolves will be a difficult place to go but we’ve got to be looking to win if we want to be the best.

“This week will be the biggest week of the season for us.”

Heat leader Simon Stead knows his way around Monmore Green having spent a year at Wolves earlier in his career, and is convinced the Robins have what it takes to come away with the points.

“It is going to be tough, that is for sure, but there is a good chance we can go there and get a result,” he said.

“If we are going to do that we all need to be on fire, but we are all going pretty well at the moment and it would be good to get a win at Wolves knowing we have to race Poole home and away.”

Ricky Wells has been in superb form for Wolverhampton in recent weeks, while Tai Woffinden has been out injured after breaking a bone in his wrist.

In his absence the Monmore side have been using rider replacement, and Stead believes the Robins need to take advantage of the former Grand Prix star’s unavailability.

“Ricky has been on fire recently and scored some big points, and if he pulls that out again then it will be tough for us,” he said.

“Tai started the season in great form, but we have to make sure we take advantage of him not being there.

“He is a big rider for them but they are a strong side, so it will not be easy for us.”