COACH Becky Osman hopes her Swindon Topcats side can claw their way to the top step of the podium when they head into English Women’s Premier League play-off weekend today.

The Topcats should start as strong favourites to get their hands on the trophy at IceSheffield, having gone through the regular season unbeaten in their 14 matches.

Their form of 12 wins and two draws is all the more impressive considering this is the Topcats’ first season in the second tier of women’s ice hockey in England.

Although Osman admits her side have overachieved already this year, it would be tough to take should they be unable to finish the job off now.

“We are still unbeaten so the ambition is to go there and win,” said Osman.

“It’s been a long tough season but if we could come away with a trophy to show for it, it would make all the hard work worth it.

“We started the season not really sure what to expect. We had come up from the league below and we thought it we could just scrape into that last play-off spot, then it would be a good effort.

“We started the season really well and it got to about January or February time and we still hadn’t lost, so we started to think we could actually win the league.

“It’s a bit of a shock really because we weren’t expecting it but we’re really looking forward to the play-offs now.

“It’s been a whole team effort. Everyone has played their part and it wouldn’t be fair for me to single anyone out. We have got a small squad but everyone has pulled together and performed for each other.”

Swindon face Milton Keynes Falcons in their semi-final today, with the victors then going on to face the winners of the other last-four clash between Widnes and Streatham Storm in tomorrow’s final.

Falcons will be all too familiar opposition for the Topcats, with the two having gone head-to-head in the final match of the regular season on May 8.

Osman’s troops were pushed all the 4-3 win in that game but she hopes the never-say-die attitude the Topcats showed will stand them in good stead for the play-offs.

“We had a really good home win against them early in the season, we beat them 5-1, and then we had them away in the last game of the season and we didn’t start very well,” said Osman.

“We were 2-0 down going into the final period and we were worried that we were going to lose our unbeaten record in the last game of the season but we came back really well and eventually won 4-3.

“It’s not going to be an easy game but we know we can beat them and hopefully that comeback gives us a spring in our step when we play them.”