RYAN Aldridge has admitted his side are in for a tough weekend as they look to start another winning run in the league.

Despite losing their winning record to Guildford Flames last Saturday the Link Centre boss was happy with the way his side performed and believes if they put in the same level again this weekend it could be a fruitful one for the Cats.

Swindon face Manchester Phoenix tonight in part one of the double header weekend.

Cats are also due to face the same team in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, but Aldridge does not believe this match will have any bearing on the cup encounter.

“I thought we deserved more than we got on Saturday and hopefully we can turn Manchester over on Saturday night,” said Aldridge.

“I think they play the same way every time. They can come and give you a hard night any day.

“They are a very organised hockey team so we have to play very smart against them.

“They’ve struggled a little bit with injuries this year, especially at the start.

“One of their most important defensive men is out as well so I think they have been a bit unlucky this season and they haven’t got the points they had this time last year.

“That doesn’t mean we take them lightly, their team isn’t hugely different.”

Swindon then travel to Bracknell Bees tomorrow evening and Aldridge hopes that people will be talking about the hockey rather than anything else come the end of the game.

“We have got to play smart against them and they are a team that are doing better in the last couple of weeks,” he added.

“They are a team that work extremely hard. They are young but they will work hard and it doesn’t matter what the score is they will keep coming at you.

“They are physical and we have just got to stick to our game and stay out of all the nonsense.

“I like our teams to play fast hockey now but I believe in team toughness and the guys have got to stick up for each other and if it is one in it is all in and don’t get anybody into situations where they can get hurt.

“Hopefully it won’t be like that and they will just play hockey because they are a better team when they do that.”