SWINDON Wildcats will be looking to lay down a marker this weekend ahead of one the biggest weeks in their recent history.

Swindon travel to the Manchester Phoenix on Thursday, with a place in the Challenge Cup final at stake, but they two games to navigate first.

Wildcats face Bracknell Bees at the Link Centre tonight before their first of three meetings with Manchester in the space of a week.

Despite Bracknell sitting bottom of the English Premier League table, forward Sam Bullas is not underestimating a side that have proven to be a thorn in the Cats’ side this season.

“We have struggled with Bracknell this year so I think Ryan is going to go a bit more aggressive and take the game to them a little bit, rather than sitting back and trying to counter-attack,” said Bullas.

“They are almost our bogey team and we have struggled against them but I don’t know why.

“The key is to get a few (goals) in the first period and really put the pressure on them, and make them try and catch the game.

“That is what we do well when we are up and that is how we have got to take it.”

The Cats then travel to Manchester tomorrow evening for a dress-rehearsal of their Challenge Cup semi-final, which is finely balanced at 3-3 after the first leg.

Despite having one eye on that semi-final, Bullas believes it is important not to forget about tomorrow’s match, which could set the tone for Thursday.

“The trip is never nice but I like playing Manchester because it is always a good, fast game and we always have good battles with them. And it is the first of three on the spin, so it should be good,” added the 24-year-old.

“Sunday is a massive one because we need to almost set the tone for the Thursday match coming up.

“We can’t go up there and lie down and think we are going to save it until Thursday.

“We have definitely proven this year that we can compete with them.

“After last year, they ran away with the league a little bit, but this year, we are level.

“It should be a good couple of games - Thursday is the big one - but we have got to get past Saturday and Sunday first.”