SWINDON Wildcats will be hoping that lightning strikes twice as they seek a second away win of the season against Milton Keynes tonight.

Ryan Aldridge’s side came away with a win on penalties the last time they travelled to Buckinghamshire and the head coach is confident they can do it again.

The Cats threw away a two-goal first period lead in that match but Aaron Nell netted the only successful penalty shot to ensure the Cats took the English Premier League and Challenge Cup points.

The Link Centre men go into the game full of confidence having secured two wins over the weekend at home to Manchester Phoenix 4-2 before travelling to Peterborough Phantoms to win 4-3.

The Swindon outfit are now unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, although having lost at home to Lightning the last time the sides met Aldridge will not be taking the size of their task lightly.

“I think we know now that everyone has to turn up every night, something I have always talked about, and our system has been working when we are short-benched,” said Aldridge who will still be without Floyd Taylor, Callum Buglass and Ollie Betteridge, who scored last time at Planet Ice.

“Everyone is buying in right now and being short-benched, the imports are on the ice a lot more and it is obviously helping us out and the boys are having fun in there right now.

“We’ve got to figure out our rest before the game but in their building we have got to go and play the same way and take our chances when they come.

“It’s a big ice pad, different to Peterborough, but we have won there before so there is nothing saying we can’t go there and win again.

“It is all about rest this week and then Saturday and then we have our Christmas break and I think it is well deserved because the boys are definitely slogging it out right now.”

Wildcats welcomed back Kenton Smith to the team on Sunday after he had missed the previous weekend due to family reasons.

Aldridge was delighted to have him back and believes having all five imports to select from will be a big boost as it gives him plenty of options depending on the opposition.

“I thought it was huge for Kenton to be in the line-up (on Sunday),” added the Link Centre boss.

“On Saturday I thought we needed to go with four forwards for offensive reasons to score more goals but on Sunday we needed Kenton for the defensive side of the game and I thought he played great.

“He hasn’t played for a little while now, the weekend before he had family issues but from now on in we are back to five imports.”