SWINDON Wildcats forward Aaron Nell has said that is it important they reverse their fortunes at home to Peterborough Phantoms tonight to gain home advantage in the play-offs.

The Wildcats have had a torrid time of things at home to the Cambridgeshire outfit, having lost 7-2 and 5-1 at the Link Centre this season already.

With Peterborough now confirmed as Swindon’s opponents in the play-offs, pride is not the only thing at stake as the two teams head into the game level on points, with the side who finishes fourth being able to decide whether they play at home on the Saturday or Sunday next weekend.

“It is very important. We want to make sure we get into that fourth spot so we get the home ice advantage in the play-offs,” said Nell.

“We have struggled against Peterborough this season at home and we want to set that record straight and have a good game going into the play-offs.

“If we finish fourth we get to decide and I know us and Peterborough both want to play on Sunday at home so whoever finished top will do that.

“It is not a massive advantage but you are taking the advantage into the play-offs when you are playing against a team that are very close to us.

“We want to set our stool out and make sure they know that they are in for a game next week.

“I think we have been a bit naive against them at home. No offence to their old teams, but the old Peterborough you used to know you’d turn up at home and you’d beat them.

“But now they are a much better team and they have shown that with their league position this year and you can’t take them lightly anymore.”

The last time Swindon played in a two-legged winner-takes-all tie was against Manchester in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

Despite taking a 3-3 draw into the second leg Swindon were left embarrassed as they succumbed to a 13-8 aggregate defeat.

Nell, who travels with his side to Manchester tomorrow night, says they learned a lot from that game to take into the play-offs next weekend.

“It’s going to be a massive game, especially if we win on Saturday,” added Nell.

“It is always a tough place to play and it will be Tony Hands last regular season game so I am sure it will be quite an occasion.

“I think we did learn from the Manchester semi-final and we will put that into the play-off games next week.

“It is a massive weekend to get ready for next week and we had a tough game last week so we want to put that behind us and have some good momentum going into the play-offs.”