SWINDON Wildcats will be going all out to secure third place when they play host to Basingstoke Bison on Saturday according to Adam Harding.

Having completed a 5-3 road win at Basingstoke last weekend, Swindon remain a place and three points behind tomorrow’s visitors with a game in hand.

Despite being penned in their own half for much of the match last Saturday, Harding is predicting a different contest as they return to the Link Centre after a full weekend away.

“We’re feeling good because we won at the weekend against them when we dug out a win,” he said.

“We play different at home and we have our crowd, which helps with the atmosphere. When we hear that, it rubs off on us and we play better.

“We are feeling good. We have beaten Basingstoke quite a few times this year, so we’re not going to worry.

“We need a win as well because we want to catch them and pass them and get into that third sport in the league.

“I think it is really big because if we do make the finals weekend as a fourth-placed team, we end up playing Telford in the semis.

“If we come third, then I don’t think we end up playing them until the final, so it is huge.

“Every team in the league this year are tough to play against but obviously Telford have run away with it and are hard to beat.

“So it is really important for us to try and get that third spot and go into the play-offs on the back of a good run, and playing with confidence.”

Swindon follow that up with a trip to Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday, where they have had mixed fortunes this season.

The Wildcats suffered a 3-1 defeat in September but followed that up with a 5-1 win in November but Harding is anticipating a hard evening.

“Sheffield are always tough to play against. They are physical and are a hard-working team. Sheffield and Basingstoke are probably the hardest working teams,” he added.

“It is going to be a tough weekend all round, so the boys are going to have to dig deep, especially with the short line-up we have.

“We always do well against Sheffield and it is a nice place to go and play hockey, so we are looking forward to it.”