VETERAN Neil Liddiard is backing Swindon Wildcats to extinguish his former team Guildford Flames in the play-offs – if they can maintain their end-of-season form.

The Swindon-born D-man, who began his lengthy career at the Link Centre in 1993, enjoyed a 12-year association with Guildford, where he won four league titles and two play-off medals, but after returning to Wiltshire this season, the 37-year-old is preparing to lock horns with his old side in the post-season.

Cats will take on the Flames over two legs in the play-off quarter-finals next weekend, and after helping his team end the regular season with back-to-back victories over Hull Pirates and Telford Tigers, Liddiard reckons that a repeat display would inspire Swindon to overcome their Surrey rivals.

“Confidence is key when you go into the play-offs and I think if we get everything right on the night, we can beat anyone, as we’ve proved throughout the season,” said the Wildcats defenceman.

“I don’t think you need to change anything. As we showed (in Sunday’s 7-4 win at Telford), the systems Aaron (Nell) puts in place; they all work when we buy into them and play as a team.

“We’ve just got to do what we do well and we should be alright.

“It will be an interesting game but we’ve played well against Guildford this year.

“Maybe, going to their rink, on the bigger ice, we may have struggled a little bit, but that was earlier in the year and the systems that we’ve got in place; if we just stick to them and play like we have been doing, we’ll be alright.

“The bigger ice can play a part but I think you get used to it as the game goes on and I honestly, truly believe that if we all turn up and play like we did on Sunday, we’ll get the win and progress.

“We’re where we need it to be and I think everyone’s confidence is high because we’ve had a few wins and everyone’s playing well, which is what you want heading into the play-offs.

“We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing, have a good week in practice, and go into the weekend.”

Cats’ first clash of the season with Guildford ended in a 6-0 defeat at the Spectrum in September and they went on to lose three more encounters with the Flames, one of which coming in overtime.

However, Aaron Nell’s side, who also dispatched the Surrey outfit in October, tasted victory in their last meeting with Guildford earlier this month, winning 3-2 in overtime at the Link Centre on March 5.

To book tickets for next Saturday’s play-off home leg (face-off 5.45pm), contact the Wildcats ticket office on 01793 886857.

  • WILDCATS netminder Stevie Lyle has dropped to the standby list after Great Britain head coach Pete Russell trimmed his squad to 28 for two international fixtures against Poland ahead of the forthcoming World Championships.

Lyle was included on an original 37-man long list for the championships, where Britain will play hosts Croatia, as well as Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania in Division 1B.

A three-day training camp in Coventry takes place ahead of the Poland matches, with the squad being reduced to 23 to travel to Zagreb.