SWINDON WILDCATS head coach Aaron Nell has full belief that his team will produce their very best when they head into battle against Guildford Flames in the play-offs next weekend.

On Monday morning, shortly after the conclusion of the English Premier League regular season on Sunday, it was confirmed that Nell’s troops will lock horns with third-placed Guildford over two quarter-final legs for the right to reach finals weekend in Coventry.

Cats, who finished sixth in the EPL table, will host the Flames at the Link Centre on Saturday, April 26 (face-off 5.45pm), before making the trip to the Spectrum in Surrey for the return leg on Easter Sunday (face-off 6pm).

Nell’s men signed off their regular season campaign with a confidence-boosting 7-4 win at Telford Tigers and the Swindon chief has his fingers crossed that his charges have accrued enough momentum to scorch Guildford.

“I think in the last three weeks, we’ve been okay at home but we’ve had really good away games,” said Nell.

“We’ve had three good away games in a row in three tough buildings, and to finally get that win away from home (Sunday’s 7-4 triumph at Telford Tigers) is big.

“Hopefully we’re peaking at the right time and I trust our team, when they’re under pressure, to put in a big performance next weekend.

“We’re not going to get too high, we’re not going to get too low, but we’re looking forward to next weekend – we’ve been waiting for it for a month or so.”

Cats were beaten 4-3 by Peterborough Phantoms in the first leg of last season’s play-off quarter-finals – they went on to lose 6-4 on aggregate.

Link Centre boss Nell added: “You can’t win in the first 10 minutes but you can lose it. Last year, we went 3-0 down pretty quick and basically, the tie was gone.

“It’s important and we’ve got to be ready.

“We can’t get too high for it. It’s going to be a great atmosphere in both games and we’ve got to enjoy it, and make sure we’re responsible and when we get chances, we’ve got to take them.

“I trust my team to do that.

“It’s a bit of a coin-flip. You’ve got to be smart and want it that little bit more, work hard, and stick together.

“If we do those three things, we’ll get through and get to Coventry, and once you get there, everyone’s got as good a chance as everyone.”